The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.

Best brokerage promotions


  • Deposit $5,000 – $9,999, get $50 cash
  • Deposit $10,000 – $19,999, get $100 cash
  • Deposit $20,000 – $24,999, get $150 cash
  • Deposit $25,000 – $99,999, get $200 cash
  • Deposit $100,000 – $249,999, get $300 cash
  • Deposit $250,000 – $499,999, get $600 cash
  • Deposit $500,000 – $999,999, get $1,200 cash
  • Deposit $1,000,000 or more, get $2,500 cash
for new signups, open and fund an account with $100 and they will give you 4 free stocks worth up to $1,600.

New forex bonuses


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.

They have no fees and no account minimums so it’s truly free stock.


The 14 best brokerage account promotions and bonuses for 2021


Updated january 21, 2021


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Are you looking to open a new brokerage account to manage your portfolio of investments but aren’t sure which one?


Many online investment platforms compete for business by offering new account promotions based on the assets you can transfer to their platform. While promotions shouldn’t be the only consideration, these promotion/bonus amounts are too hard to look past.


There are a range of bonuses listed below, whether you have an established portfolio and looking to transfer stocks, or starting new.


Continue reading to review the best brokerage account promotions for new accounts.


Our top picks:


Webull – 4 free stocks worth up to $1,600


Webull is a free trading app from webull financial. They are a brokerage based out of new york city and regulated by FINRA, you can look them up on brokercheck. We have a full review of webull and their offer here.


For new signups, open and fund an account with $100 and they will give you 4 free stocks worth up to $1,600. They have no fees and no account minimums so it’s truly free stock.


Robinhood – free share of stock



Robinhood is a relatively new brokerage that will give you a free share of stock when you open an account. There are no other requirements of the offer, you just need to open an account. No deposit, no transfer, no nothing. You can read more about the free share of stock promotion here.


Ally invest – up to $3,500



Ally invest is the online brokerage account I use because they offer free trades (U.S. Stock, etfs, and options) with no minimums and monthly balance requirements. I have an ally bank account so managing it all with one login is convenient too. I wish I would’ve taken advantage of their new account bonuses for transfers because it’s one of the most generous, here is the schedule based on how much you deposit within 60 days of account opening:


Here is the ally invest bonus structure:


Deposit or transfer
amount
your bonus
$10,000 – $24,999$50
$25,000 – $99,999$200
$100,000 – $249,999$300
$250,000 – $499,999$600
$500,000 – $999,999$1,200
$1,000,000 – $1,999,999$2,500
$2,000,000 or more$3,500


They will also credit transfer fees if you move your account from another brokerage – up to $150 ACAT fee reimbursement.


NVSTR –



NVSTR has a referral program where you can get up to $1,000 (but at least $10) when you sign up. The referring customer gets $10 to $1,000 too – and it’s a limited time offer. If you’ve never heard of them before, our NVSTR review can get you up to speed.


The only requirement is that you make one trade within a year and you can keep the bonus. There are no other requirements for the new account bonus.


There is also a deposit bonus. For a limited time, after you open your account, you can get a bonus based on what you deposit. You need to maintain this amount for one year to keep the deposit bonus.

The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Tastyworks


Tastyworks will give you 100 shares of a “highly liquid stock” when you open and fund a new cash or margin account with $2,000. The shares will be selected at random from a list of eleven stocks priced between $1 and $6, so you can get anywhere from $100 to $600 in this promotion with a stated average bonus of $200 – $220. There is a 70% chance of getting a stock priced under $2 and a 30% chance of getting a stock priced over $2.


You must keep the initial value of the stock, less any loss in value, in the account for a minimum of three months.


The referral/promotion code for this offer is “STOCK_AWARD_20” and you must put it in the referral code field when applying.


Sofi invest – $50


Sofi invest is the brokerage arm of sofi, the student loan refinancing company. They’ve recently branched out into other areas, including sofi money (banking), and they are now offering a $50 bonus if you sign up and deposit at least $25.


With sofi invest, you can manage your portfolio (active investing) or go with a roboadvisor approach (auto investing). With active investing, you can invest in stocks, cryptocurrencies, and etfs without paying a trading commission.


For a limited time, get $50 in stock from sofi invest if you sign up with a referral link and deposit at least $1,000. There’s no trading requirement.


Betterment


Betterment is one of the largest and most respected robo-advisors, you can see our review of betterment for a closer look at their service.


For new accounts, they will waive the management fee of 0.25% depending on how much you transfer:



  • Deposit $15,000 – $99,999, get 1 month managed free

  • Deposit $100,000 – $249,999, get 6 months managed free

  • Deposit $250,000+, get 12 months managed free



Citi personal wealth management


Citi personal wealth management has a juicy bonus offer when you transfer new-to-citibank funds within 2 months of opening an account. You also will need to enroll in e-delivery of statements and then keep those funds in the account through the end of the next month (or three months after the month of account enrollment). Bonus will be credited three months after you meet the maintenance requirement.


Here’s the citi bonus transfer schedule:



  • Fund with $50,000 – $199,999 – $500

  • Fund with $200,000 – $499,999 – $1,000

  • Fund with $500,000 – $999,999 – $1,500

  • Fund with $1,000,000 – $1,999,999 – $2,500

  • Fund with $2,000,000 or more – $3,500



Merrill edge – up to $600


Merrill edge, a bank of america company, will give you up to $1,000 if you open a new merrill edge account using the offer code 600ME. You just need to transfer your funds within 45 days, maintain that balance for 90 days, and you will get the cash bonus in 2 weeks. This bonus applies to individual merrill edge iras or cash management accounts, which is what they call their taxable brokerage accounts.


Here’s the merrill edge bonus transfer schedule:



  • Fund with $20,000 – $49,999: $100

  • Fund with $50,000 – $99,999: $150

  • Fund with $100,000 – $199,999: $250

  • Fund with $200,000+ $600



If you are a preferred reward client, you may get up to $900 with this alternative offer.


Charles schwab – up to $500



Charles schwab will give stock plan services clients a bonus of up to $500 when you open a new account and transfer in new funds with 45 days. If you are not a stock plan service, they won’t give you this promotion (they will even let you apply and enter in a promotion code, but they won’t give you the bonus).


Here’s charles schwab’s bonus transfer schedule:



  • Fund with $10,000 – $24,999: $100

  • Fund with $25,000 – $45,999: $200

  • Fund with $50,000 – $99,999: $300

  • Fund with $100,000+ $500



Update: I have received reports from readers that you don’t get cash but instead get “trade credits” which can be used to pay the commission for trades. If you are considering this offer, call to confirm the details.


E*TRADE – up to $2,500



When I think of new account promotions, I think of E*TRADE. For years, they had an offer where you could get up to $3,000 (if you had over a million dollars in assets to transfer!) and 60 days of free trades if you open a non-retirement brokerage account.


With the recent rush of brokerages offering free trades, the promotion is now just cash.


You can find the full details here but this is the offer:



  • Deposit $5,000 – $9,999, get $50 cash

  • Deposit $10,000 – $19,999, get $100 cash

  • Deposit $20,000 – $24,999, get $150 cash

  • Deposit $25,000 – $99,999, get $200 cash

  • Deposit $100,000 – $249,999, get $300 cash

  • Deposit $250,000 – $499,999, get $600 cash

  • Deposit $500,000 – $999,999, get $1,200 cash

  • Deposit $1,000,000 or more, get $2,500 cash



Fidelity – promotion [expired]



Fidelity doesn’t offer any cash bonus right now and their last promotion, for free trades, no longer applies as they’ve made many trades commission free.


This offer has expired. We will update it when fidelity issues a new promotion.


Tradestation – $100 [expired]


Tradestation has a “cash madness” promotion where you can get $100 when you open and fund a tradestation securities account with $500 or more. All you have to do is open a new tradestation securities account using the offer code ZINGAFOG, deposit at least $500 within thirty days of opening your account, and then maintain the balance for one month after the funding date.


The promotion expired on july 1st, 2020. We will update this section when a new promotion arrives.


Frequently asked questions


Here are some frequently asked questions about bonuses and the brokerage transfer process.


Almost every brokerage firm supports ACATS, which stands for automated customer account transfer service, which lets you transfer your assets “in-kind.” this means that your holdings are transferred without you having to sell them (and create a taxable event). If you have big unrealized gains in a stock, the shares just get moved over without you having to sell them and you keep the same cost basis.


You may run into hiccups if some items can’t be transferred. One common example is vanguard admiral shares of their mutual funds. Some brokerages will take them, others won’t. In these cases, you may have to transfer them to another asset type (like the ETF version), which will accept them.


ACATS does take a week or two to complete the transfer.


I don’t think it’s worth switching from broker to broker, grabbing up the bonuses, but the process isn’t difficult.


If you’re looking to make a move anyway, getting paid a little for the effort is better than not being paid.


Some brokers may charge you to leave, which is something you’d be paying anyway, so hopping around may reduce your returns from the bonus perspective.


If you are creating new taxable brokerage accounts, the bonuses will be reported as income and you will have to claim them on your taxes as income.


If you are creating retirement accounts, like an IRA, the bonuses are going into those accounts so you won’t owe taxes on them immediately. For traditional iras, you’ll just be taxed when you start taking distributions. Roth iras will never be taxed. For each account, review the terms and conditions to see how the brokerage is treating it and you’ll know for certain.



Top 10 best forex brokers with bonus and promotions for 2021


Top rated:






The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Are you on the lookout for the best forex brokers with bonus and promotions to offer?


They can be tricky to find, but if the answer is yes, then you are certainly in the correct place. Here we will give you all of the information you need, not only on the top recommended brokers if you are looking for a bonus, but also what these promotions mean, and how they can best work to your benefit as a trader.


With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the best brokers we have found that can offer bonus and promotions to you as a trader.


Are these bonuses really free money?


Although it may be hard to believe at first, it is true. The bonuses really are free money that is sent to your account by the broker. Now what is often asked is, can I withdraw these bonus funds?


Generally, the answer is yes with most top brokers. Their policy will vary though and in many cases, there are certain trading criteria that you must meet in order to withdraw the bonus funds from your account.


What should I check when choosing a bonus?


There are a couple of very important steps that you must run through when checking the bonus that you should choose, and the broker who is providing that bonus.


First off, it is vital that you read the terms and conditions carefully, so you know exactly what is on offer. Added to that, it is important to consider the whole offering of a broker. This means not only the bonus amounts, but what else they have to offer such as spreads, minimum deposits, and more.


Please note that the following bonuses may not be available in every country, and that brokers are not allowed to offer these to customers based in the EU or UK due to local regulatory restrictions. Read T&C before applying to a bonus.


Top 9 forex brokers with bonus and promotions


Here are the top 9 forex broker bonus and promotion offers we have found available:



1. FBS


FBS is the first broker to make our listing for having some of the top promotions and bonus offers in the industry. They are well-known as being a very respected broker around the world, and they have a huge amount of bonuses on offer.


At FBS you can win a wide range of prizes from holidays to new cars, and you can also double your deposit with the great FBS 100% deposit bonus they have in place. An FBS no deposit bonus is also available at no-risk at all to your funds as well as a cashback bonus if certain conditions are met. The FBS bonus offering continues to grow and expand with many contests and challenges also available where you can win cash, trips, and VIP event invites. They also run contests directly on social media like facebook where all you need to do is share posts with your friends. These are just some of the reasons why FBS is a top bonus broker for all traders.



XM is another top international broker, and one of the most easily recognizable in the industry. They too offer a strong range of bonuses and promotions. These start with an excellent $30 no deposit bonus which you can use for completely risk-free, real money trading.


Beyond this you will also find a deposit bonus of up to $4500 which means your deposit will be matched by the broker with free money up to this high value. Aside from those regular types of bonus offerings, XM also runs a lucky draw which has a huge total value of $1,000,000. As a regular trader with the broker you can also join their loyalty program which is points based. You can redeem these points through your trading actions to obtain a wide range of great benefits with the broker.


Please note that these bonuses may not be available with every XM entity



3. Instaforex


Instaforex is the next broker to make the top list of brokers providing bonuses and promotions. They too are very well-trusted by a broad range of traders across the industry. They start their bonus offering with one of the very best no deposit bonus offers in the sector. This is the instaforex $1,000 no deposit bonus.


Further to this monster bonus offer, the broker also provides a deposit bonus of 30% so you can always receive an additional 30% on top of your initial deposit as risk-free bonus funds to trade with the broker. Added to this, instaforex makes a huge range of contests and challenges available where you only need to have a demo account to participate and win. Here you can win a great range of physical prizes including cars, money, and much more.



4. Fxopen


The next broker on the list offering top promotions and bonuses is fxopen. They kick their bonus offering off with a $10 no deposit bonus. This is great if you are new to trading and looking to try out the broker with no risk at all to your own money.


Another great offer for beginners is the $1 welcome bonus on micro accounts. This makes sure you are covered to trade with free money, even at lower risk levels. Like many of the other brokers they also provide access to a large number of trading contests with a unique prize attached. This prize is that if you reach a certain benchmark of profit in the contest with virtual funds, they will then turn 10% of these funds into real money for you to trade with. A very attractive bonus proposition indeed from this popular broker.



5. Roboforex


Roboforex are in on the act too as another respected top broker offering bonuses and promotions to their traders. The excellent bonus infrastructure here starts with a deposit bonus that can be either 10%, 60%, or a huge 120% depending on how much you are depositing.


The offers do not stop there with roboforex either. Just for joining the broker, you will be entitled to a $30 welcome bonus. This can be used for completely risk-free trading on the markets of your choice. You will also be entered into weekly and monthly contests which are free to enter but where you can win real prizes on both demo, and live accounts. Regular traders are not forgotten either with cash rebates stretching up to 15% based on how much you trade.



6. Hotforex


Hotforex are one of the cornerstones of the industry and regularly feature as a top broker in many listings. They too have a very strong bonus infrastructure though it may not be available in every country the same. This is particularly true in europe.


Outside of that though, their offer is strong. They provide a number of unique bonuses the first of which is a 100% credit bonus. This acts to double your deposit with completely free bonus funds. They also offer a very unique 30% rescue bonus. This bonus protects your funds from drawdowns up to $7,000. The 100% supercharged bonus is one of their most popular though. This provides for a huge amount in cash rebates that can reach up to $8,000, on top of a 100% deposit bonus. All of these great offerings maintain hotforex as a very popular bonus broker of choice.


Please note that these bonuses may not be available with every XM entity



7. Octafx


Octafx is another popular, and rapidly growing name in the sector. They are not stepping back when it comes to offering a bonus either. If you are trading with this broker, the first thing you may want to try out are some of the demo account contests.


These great contests come with prizes of up to $500 real cash if you are trading through metatrader, and $150 if you are using ctrader. If these pique your interest, then you can decide to deposit for real, and benefit more from a 50% deposit bonus which is on offer. On top of this, there are many other prizes including merchandise to be won from a broker who is strong, trusted, and growing all the time.



8. FXTM


FXTM is one of the biggest names in the industry. They have also not forgotten a strong bonus infrastructure, and for this reason, they too feature on our list of the best brokers for bonus offers and promotions.


At the core of the FXTM bonus offering is their excellent loyalty program. Here, the more you trade, the more you can get paid. At the maximum level you have the ability to earn as much as $10,000 from the program. Also offered by the broker are a great range of both demo and live trading contests where you can compete against your fellow traders to win top prizes.



9. Vantage FX


Vantagefx is next in our selection of the best forex brokers who offer a good range of bonus systems. Here you will be able to take advantage of a 50% deposit bonus that will allow you to trade risk-free with bonus cash from the broker based on how much you deposit.


Vantagefx also offers a great and very rewarding loyalty program where you can avail of 10% rebates on your trades up to $2 per lot traded when you deposit at least $1,000. With the broker and this program, there is no limit on the trade size at all. The higher the lot size you trade, the higher your bonus will be.


Different type of bonuses


When choosing your forex broker bonus, it is also important to keep in mind that there are many different bonus types available. Here is a more detailed look at exactly the kind of bonuses that are offered by brokers:


Forex deposit bonus: the forex deposit bonus is a certain amount of money offered as a bonus based on the amount which you deposit. In the case of many brokers, this can mean matching your deposit amount with an equal bonus amount.


Forex no deposit bonus: A forex no deposit bonus, as you might gather from the name, is a bonus which is offered to you with no deposit required. In most cases, you simply have to complete the registration process. This money is free and can be used in real trading at no risk to your own money.


Welcome forex bonus: the welcome bonus can be similar to a no deposit bonus. You will get a bonus money amount for completing registration, and in some cases based on the amount of your first deposit.


Loyalty program: A forex broker loyalty program, just like any other, is usually based on how much you use the service. In this case, the more you trade, the more you will be rewarded by such programs. These rewards could come in the form of lower trading costs, additional premium trade tools, physical prizes, access to live events and meetings, and much more.


Points system: the forex broker point systems can also be based on loyalty programs. With these systems, the more you trade, the more points you will earn. These points can then be used to access monetary prizes, cars, vacations, and more.


Cash back and rebates: cash back and rebate programs are also a very common form of bonus. Just as the name suggests, with this form of bonus, you can earn money back for each lot you trade.


Money protection bonus: this is not a very common form of forex broker bonus, though it exists, nonetheless. This kind of bonus from your broker actually protects your funds from reaching a certain negative level, and in some cases, anything beyond this negative point can be refunded.


Forex contest prize: there are a wide range of brokers who organize contests which you can participate in with virtual funds against other traders. If you win some of these contests through making the most profit from virtual funds, then you can win all kinds of great prizes including cash, cars, and more.


Why do brokers offer forex no-deposit bonuses and other bonuses?


There are several reasons why your broker may offer a no deposit, or other type of bonus. One of the primary reasons for this is to create value for you as a trader, and to attract new traders to the industry and that broker.


This method is accepted in many parts of the world, though not in europe. Within the EU, the offering of the majority of these kinds of bonuses is not allowed by the regulator. ESMA does this in a large part to protect beginners from getting involved in trading without the proper knowledge and ultimately losing their money.


Tips on how to choose a bonus and a broker


If you are thinking about choosing a forex broker, the bonus is just one element of this choice, and it should not be a large factor in your decision-making process. First and foremost, you have to choose a broker who is trustworthy, and well-regulated. Luckily all of the brokers on our listing are both of these things.


Once you have done this, then you can think about the bonus they are offering, but do not make your choice based on the broker bonus alone. You have to consider all of your trading needs. In this case, you may want to try out a broker first. This would be a great time to select a no deposit bonus broker so you can try out their real trading at no risk to you.



Best brokerage account deals and bonuses right now: earn up to $3,500 with a new account


Get more cash to build wealth with these top brokerage deals and promotions.


Brokerage brokerage bonus offer bonus trigger
TD ameritrade $350-$2,500 account opening and deposit minimum
M1 finance $250-$2,500 account opening and transfer minimum
stash $5 account opening and deposit minimum
betterment 1-12 months of free portfolio management account opening and deposit minimum
blockfi $15-$250 free bitcoin account opening and deposit minimum
ally invest $50-$3,500 account opening and deposit minimum
robinhood $2.50-$200 worth of free stock account opening
webull $8-$1,600 of free stock deposit minimum
charles schwab $100-$500 account opening and deposit minimum
merrill edge self-directed $100-$600 account opening and deposit minimum
E-trade $25-$2,500 account opening and deposit minimum

If you’re unsure how to choose between this list of brokerage bonuses, these deciding factors on an investment brokerage will show you what to look for in a new account.


Best brokerage account bonuses right now


Building an investment portfolio can take time, but some top brokerage firms can help you with promotions, deals, referral bonuses and sign-up bonuses. Depending on how much money you have to invest, these brokers may offer to deposit a cash bonus into your account, give you free stock or provide fee-free investing for a set period.


If you’re looking for a new brokerage to help manage your portfolio, or if you’re a beginner investor who is excited to get started, check out these brokerage bonus offers to see how you can maximize your return.


1. TD ameritrade bonus: $350-$2,500


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


One of the largest brokers in the U.S., TD ameritrade provides a platform for all kinds of investors. It offers a robust set of resources and tools and doesn’t charge commissions on online trades of stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (etfs).


TD ameritrade’s requirements to earn a sign-up bonus are a bit steep, so less experienced investors may not qualify. But the broker’s platform is among the best. With commission-free on stocks, mutual funds and other securities, TD ameritrade is still worth considering for long-term investing needs.


Read our full review of the TD ameritrade bonus.


2. M1 finance bonus: $250-$2,500


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


If you’re looking for an online stock broker that provides both investing and banking services, M1 finance may be ideal. With just $100, you can open an account and start trading various securities — that includes fractional shares, which allow you to purchase portions of shares in publicly-traded companies and benefit from gains without needing a lot of money. Plus, as an added benefit, the platform offers free trades.


M1 finance’s transfer bonus requires new money to be deposited into your account by october 31, 2020.


While this robo-advisor doesn’t offer a cash bonus, the features alone make this online broker worth considering. In addition to DIY-investing and checking, M1 finance offers the chance to borrow on margin at a low interest rate, especially if you register for an M1 plus account. It even offers commission-free trading for both trade windows and cash-back rewards for everyday spending.


Read our full review of the M1 finance bonus.


3. Stash bonus: $5 slickdeals bonus


slick tip: use this slickdeals affiliate link to automatically receive your $5 bonus offer to invest.

The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


If you’re relatively new to investing, meeting high deposit minimums may not be an option. With stash invest, though, you can get a bonus of $5 after you open a stash investment account and deposit $5 or more in new funds. While it may be a small incentive, it is a dollar for dollar match on your first $5 deposit.


That $5 sign-up bonus can be among your first dollars to invest with stash, and you can use it to trade stocks — including fractional shares — and etfs. Stash also offers a stock-back rewards program with its checking account, which means that you can earn rewards in the form of stocks when you make qualifying purchases with your stash debit card.


Just keep in mind that there’s a monthly fee that ranges from $1 to $9, depending on which features you want and how much you want to earn in stock-back rewards. However, like many online stock brokers, stash offers free trades which can help you to recover the cost of monthly fees.


Read our in-depth stash bonus review.


4. Betterment bonus: 1-12 months free portfolio management


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


One of the pioneers of robo-advising, betterment offers the chance to invest and bank all under one roof. On the investing side of things, the brokerage firm uses algorithms to manage your portfolio for you in exchange for a 0.25% annual fee. You can also upgrade to a premium plan with access to certified financial planners and advice for investments outside of betterment for a 0.40% annual fee.


For smaller investments, getting just one month for free may not amount to much. But it can give you some time to test-drive the platform and decide whether a robo-advisor is right for you.


5. Blockfi bonus: $15 – $250 in free bitcoin


slick tip: use this link and automatically earn your bonus after direct depositing the eligible bonus amount (see below).

The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Cryptocurrency is a relatively new investment option, and blockfi is taking innovative steps to allow investors to take advantage of it. You can use the broker’s platform to buy and sell various cryptocurrencies, interest on your investment and even use your cryptocurrency as collateral to borrow money.


Blockfi is currently running a new block interest account (BIA) promotion. Fund your new block interest account with $25 or more on or before november to earn a one-time bitcoin bonus of $15 to $250. You must be a new blockfi customer to qualify for this bonus.
Tier deposit amount (new money) BTC payout
tier 1 $25 – $249 $15
tier 2 $250 – $999 $20
tier 3 $1,000 — $4,999 $40
tier 4 $5,000 – $9,999 $75
tier 5 $10,000 – $19,999 $150
tier 6 $20,000+ $250


The blockfi interest account lets you put your crypto to work and earn monthly interest payments in the asset-type that you deposit with blockfi.


Blockfi bonus fine print


New clients who sign up through this referral link and fund their account during the current promotional period are eligible to receive $15 – $250 bitcoin bonus (in USDC) depending on their investment tier. The current promotional period is defined as the current calendar month ending at 23:59:59 UTC on the last day of the month.


Please note, this must be your first deposit, and you must maintain a minimum $25 crypto balance through the 14th of the month for two and a half months from the month of eligibility in order to remain eligible. Eligible payouts occur on the 15th of every month on a rolling basis. If the 15th falls on a weekend, then the bonus payout will occur by the end of the next business day. There is a maximum of one bonus per client. This offer cannot be combined with other trading offers. Trading qualifications are dependent upon geographical or regulatory restrictions. Terms subject to change.


Blockfi referral bonuses


Once you’ve become a blockfi customer, you are eligible for their referral program which provides referral links for you to share. For every person that signs up using your blockfi referral code and deposits $100 or more into their blockfi interest account, you and that friend will each earn $10 in BTC.


You can obtain a blockfi referral links by visiting the refer-a-friend landing page. Similarly, new promotions and past promotions are listed here on the blockfi promotions page.


6. Ally invest bonus: $50 – $3,500


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Ally invest is an online-only bank that offers a variety of banking, lending and wealth management services. It also offers one of the biggest bonuses for new investing customers that we’ve seen. If you open an ally self-invest account by december 31, 2020 and fund it with a certain amount within the first 60 days of account opening, you can receive up to $3,500.


Ally invest features commission-free trades on eligible U.S exchange-listed stock, ETF, and option trades. In fact, at $0.50 per contract, ally invest offers low-cost fees for option trades and a wide selection of etfs from vanguard, globalx, ishares and more.


Ally invest offers high-yield etfs from market leaders that may complement your portfolio and help diversify your investing strategy


7. Robinhood bonus: $2.50 – $200 worth of free stock


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Robinhood helped pioneer the mobile investing movement, as well as commission-free trades. The commission-free platform allows you to trade stocks (fractional shares included), options, cryptocurrencies and etfs, and there’s no minimum to get started.


What’s more, the broker’s bonus is easy to earn: simply open a new account, and you’ll receive a free stock worth between $2.50 and $200. With no barrier to entry, this one may be the best online stock option for inexperienced investors.


One thing to keep in mind, though, is that robinhood doesn’t offer retirement accounts. So you may want to consider another option if you’re hoping to open one of those.


8. Webull bonus: $8 – $1,600 of free stock


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Another great mobile-first trading platform, webull offers the chance to invest in stocks, etfs and options (though you can’t trade fractional shares). Also, like robinhood, webull doesn’t require massive deposits to earn its welcome offer of free stocks. You can receive up to two free stocks each valued between $8 to $1,600 when you open an account with the broker and fund it with $100 or more.


The broker also offers several ways to earn more free stock, including through referral links and other ongoing promotions. If you’re just starting out or you’re not sure you want to move a lot of money, webull can get a great place to start.


In addition to offering free trades, another one of webull’s strengths is its investment in technical research, which can be a huge plus for experienced investors and others who want to learn.


9. Charles schwab: $100-$500


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Like TD ameritrade, charles schwab is one of the largest brokers in the U.S., and offers a much wider range of investment options, resources, tools and other features than many of the smaller brokers on our list.


While the sign-up deposit requirements are a bit steeper than some other brokers, the lowest tier is still relatively accessible to investors with lower net worths.


10. Merrill edge self-directed account bonus: $100 – $600


To earn the cash bonus, you’ll need to make your qualifying deposit of new funds within 45 days of opening your account, then keep it in the account for 90 days after that.


And remember, the sign-up bonus only works for merrill edge self-directed accounts, which is where you manage your own portfolio. If you open a guided investing account with a professional manager, you’ll be ineligible for the promotion. Merrill edge’s bonus is more accessible than many other broker bonuses, but still requires a good amount of cash to get the minimum amount.


11. E-trade brokerage and retirement accounts: $25 – $2,500


Once you meet the requirements, you’ll receive your cash bonus within seven business days. The offer is valid on new accounts opened by dec. 31, 2020, but you’ll have 60 days after that deadline to meet your deposit requirement. You also need to maintain the funds in the account (minus any trading losses you incur) for 12 months.



Best brokerage signup bonuses in january 2021


These brokerage account promotions are among the best in the biz.


Updated jan 11, 2021 . What changed?


Signup bonuses can help new investors choose a trading platform. Some have minimum deposit requirements, while others offer a bonus just for opening an account. While a signup bonus may not make or break your decision to open an account, it’s worthwhile to know which platforms offer the best signup perks in the industry.


Here are the best offers for the week of january 11.


Top offers



  • Best signup bonus: tradestation

  • Best signup bonus just for opening an account: sofi invest

  • Best free stock offer: tastyworks


Tradestation


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.



  • $5,000 when investors make a deposit or account transfer of $5 million or more into their tradestation account.


Tradestation caters to experienced traders with commission-free stocks, top-notch charting tools, sophisticated screeners and third-party research. While it’s certainly not the most beginner-friendly platform, tradestation makes a name for itself with award-winning analytics, extensive educational resources and a custom-built coding language for traders to back-test strategies.


Among the drawbacks? Traders complain of the platform’s high learning curve, high fees for low volume trading and limited access to international assets.


While its $5,000 cash bonus is an appealing perk, the $5 million minimum deposit may be challenging to meet. Luckily, tradestation offers smaller signup bonuses for deposits below $5 million.
Signup bonusdeposit or transfer amount
$5,000$5,000,000
$3,500$2,000,000
$2,500$1,000,000
$1,200$500,000
$600$200,000
$300$100,000
$200$25,000
$50$5,000

option trade fee $0 + $0.50/contract
account transfer fee $125
available asset types stocks
bonds
options
mutual funds
etfs
futures
cryptocurrency

Best signup bonus just for opening an account


Sofi invest



  • Get one free stock valued between $5 to $1,000 when you open a sofi invest active investing brokerage account.


Sofi’s brokerage signup bonus is available to any investor who opens a sofi invest active investing brokerage account. New investors have the opportunity to play sofi’s claw game: investors navigate the claw to the gift they want, drop the claw and receive a random stock worth $5 to $1,000. There are no funding requirements or account minimums to receive this bonus.


The promotion is not available to investors opening a sofi IRA or investing with sofi’s robo-advisor.


Sofi offers commission-free stocks, free portfolio management and a reliable, user-friendly mobile app. But its security lineup is limited to stocks, etfs and cryptocurrencies.


Intro or bonus offer for a limited time, get one free stock worth up to $1,000 when you open a sofi invest active investing brokerage account.
Option trade fee N/A
available asset types stocks
etfs
cryptocurrency

Tastyworks


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.



  • Get 100 shares of stock with an average total value of $200 to $220 when you open and fund a tastyworks cash or margin account with at least $2,000.


Tastyworks’ signup bonus offers investors 100 shares of stock that are randomly selected from a collection of 11 stocks priced between $1 and $6. The value of the stock is credited to the investor’s account but will not count toward the investor’s buying power until three months have passed.


Investors new to tastyworks can fund their account with as little as $1, but any investor keen on the platform’s signup bonus will need to deposit at least $2,000.


Tastyworks is a derivatives-focused trading platform that offers access to stocks, etfs, options and futures. While not the most beginner-friendly of platforms, its comprehensive research offerings and live access to tastytrade programs makes it a viable option for active investors seeking options trading.


Intro or bonus offer fund your tastyworks account with at least $2,000 to receive 100 shares of stock.
Option trade fee stocks & etfs: $1/contract to open, $0 to close, $10 max/leg
futures: $2.50/contract to open, $0 to close
futures trade fee $1.25/contract to open, $1.25 to close
available asset types stocks
options
etfs
futures

Compare all signup bonuses


As of january 11, these are the signup bonuses available at 20 of the most popular brokerages. Each platform may have slightly different requirements for what they consider a qualifying deposit. Read the terms before you sign up to make sure you qualify for the bonus.


Provider highest signup bonus requirements lowest signup bonus requirements learn more
ally invest $3,500 deposit or transfer $2,000,000+ $50 deposit or transfer $10,000–$24,900 read review
charles schwab $500 make a qualifying deposit of $100,000+ in cash or securities $100 make a qualifying deposit of $1,000–$24,999 in cash or securities read review
chase you invest N/A N/A N/A N/A read review
E-trade $2,500 open an account using the promo code WINTER21 and deposit $1,000,000+ within the next 60 days $50 open an account using the promo code WINTER21 and deposit $5,000–$9,999 within the next 60 days read review
fidelity $200 deposit $200+ $50 deposit $50 to $99 read review
firstrade get up to $200 in transfer fee rebates open an account and transfer at least $2,500 in securities N/A N/A read review
gatsby N/A N/A N/A N/A read review
interactive brokers N/A N/A N/A N/A read review
merrill edge $900 deposit qualifying assets of $200,000+ and use offer code 900ME $150 deposit qualifying assets of $20,000 and use offer code 900ME read review
robinhood free stock (chosen randomly with a value anywhere between $2.50 and $200) sign up using the promotional link N/A N/A read review
sofi invest win a stock valued between $5 and $1,000 sign up for an active investing brokerage account and play the claw game N/A N/A read review
stash invest $5 add at least $5 to your invest account N/A N/A read review
stockpile N/A N/A N/A N/A read review
tastyworks get 100 shares of stock (worth $1 to $6 a share) open and fund a new cash or margin account with $2,000+ N/A N/A read review
TD ameritrade $2,500 deposit $2,000,000+ $350 deposit $250,000+ read review
tradestation $5,000 deposit qualifying assets of $5,000,000+ and use promo code CASHAFRV $50 deposit qualifying assets of $5,000+ read review
vanguard N/A N/A N/A N/A read review
webull get 4 free stocks with values ranging from $2.50 to $1,600 open an account and deposit at least $100 get two free stock valued between $2.50 and $250 open an account read review
wellstrade N/A N/A N/A N/A read review
zacks trade N/A N/A N/A N/A read review


Bottom line


When selecting a brokerage account, consider its tools, fees, asset classes and more. Signup bonuses may be appealing, but consider your options across multiple platforms before you make a decision.



Brokerage promotions


Every month, benzinga compiles a list of the absolute best brokerage promotions for investors looking to open new accounts. These include sign-on bonuses, free trades and more. Check back each month for an updated list.


Benzinga staff

Contributor, benzinga

If you’re new to investing, want to switch your brokerage or just create a new brokerage account, look no further. Brokerages offer deals and promotions to new account holders, such as sign-on bonuses, free trades, access to premium services and more. Looking for more than just promotions?


Read benzinga’s best online brokerages to find the brokerage that works best for you and your trading style.


Table of contents [ hide ]


  • Moomoo promotion

  • Webull promotion

  • Tradestation promotion

  • Tradezero promotion

  • FOREX.Com promotion

  • Ninjatrader promotion

  • IG promotion

  • Generic trade promotion

  • Tastyworks promotion

  • Etoro promotion

  • Firstrade promotion

  • Nadex promotion


Moomoo promotion


Limited time offers with moomoo!


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Limited time offers with moomoo!


Get your 1st stock valued up to $200 by depositing $100 or more
get your 2nd stock valued up to $1000 by depositing $1500 or more
get 2 additional stocks valued up to $1000 by depositing $5000 or more


Moomoo offers an intuitive and powerful investing platform for beginning investors and experienced traders. Moomoo’s groundbreaking app offers unique new features and enhancements to improve the trading experience. Don’t miss out on moomoo’s limited time offers!


Webull promotion


Now until month end!


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Now until month end!


From now until dec 14, new users who make initial deposit over $100 will get 4 free stocks worth up to $1600.
Refer 2 friends who make an initial deposit over $100 to get 7 free stocks.
Refer 3 friends who make an initial deposit over $100 to get 15 free stocks.


Webull offers an all-in-one self-directed investment platform that provides excellent user experience, intelligent tools and services, no commission, free real-time quotes, multi-platform accessibility, full extended hours trading and 24/7 online help.


Tradestation promotion


Get up to $2,500 when you transfer funds into your tradestation account.


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Get up to $2,500 when you transfer funds into your tradestation account.


Tradestation gives you everything you need to trade with complete confidence: professional-grade tools, powerful mobile and web apps, personalized client support and some of the industry’s most competitive pricing. Now they’re upping the ante with a special cash offer.


Trade stocks, etfs, futures, options or crypto with reliable execution on powerful platforms and competitive pricing models with tradestation. You can compete in numerous markets, test and optimize your strategies and join in on a community to share your knowledge and learn more skills.


Tradezero promotion


Short like A pro!



Short like A pro!


Looking for a dependable broker to short stocks? Free to join – start trading with tradezero, benzinga’s 2020 “best broker for shorting stocks”


Benzinga awarded tradezero best brokerage for short selling and it’s well-deserved. Tradezero, along with commission-free trading, offers its zeropro platform, which delivers speed and functionality. It also offers zeroweb, a powerful level 2 web platform with direct market access and zerofree, a $0 software solution. You can also get zeromobile if you’re constantly on the go. All 4 options deliver everything you need to become a successful trader.


FOREX.Com promotion





Reduce your trading costs by up to 18% with cash rebates, forex.Com is the #1 forex broker in the US. Signing up for an account now will get you waived bank fees on all wires, as well as one-on-one support from an experienced market strategist.


FOREX.Com connects independent traders to the potential of the global currency markets. FOREX.Com offers a way to help forex traders with what they need to succeed. Plus, get the most out of every trade with FOREX.Com’s clear, competitive pricing. No small print involved!


Ninjatrader promotion


Start trading with only $400


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Start trading with only $400


FREE platform included with ALL brokerage accounts:
1. NO PLATFORM FEES!
2. Get started with FREE advanced charting, market analysis and trade simulation.


Ninjatrader is the winner of two benzinga global fintech awards, including best brokerage for trading futures.



  • Best brokerage for trading futures: ninjatrader was recognized its high-performance trading software, discount brokerage services and real-time support.

  • Trader empowerment award: as the first open source platform available to the futures trading community, ninjatrader was recognized for empowering traders and developers to build their own indicators, apps and strategies.



IG promotion


Trade forex with IG


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Trade forex with IG


Create a forex trading account with IG and have access to over 80 currency pairs starting from 0.8 pips. Open a trading account with IG today and start trading in less than five minutes. Place your trade on desktop, mobile and tablet.


IG is the world’s leading provider of contracts for difference (cfds) and financial spread betting. Listed on the U.K.’s FTSE 250, IG combines the strength and security of a fully-regulated international company based across 5 continents.


Generic trade promotion


Low cost, high tech


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Low cost, high tech


All accounts, regardless of size or volume, are 59¢ commission per side. All fees are fully disclosed. Low cost + high tech = value more about value.


Generic trade provides the best trading environment at the best value possible. Generic trade offers consistency and stability with the same low commission rate for every account and every market since 2010.


Tastyworks promotion


Get 10 options OR 10 shares


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.


Get 10 options OR 10 shares


Tastyworks will kick-start your new brokerage account when you open and fund with $2,000!


Tastyworks believes in DIY investing, that it can be more rewarding than relying on money managers or robo-advisors who put your portfolio on autopilot.


You’ll get every edge possible with the technology, rates and support to help you succeed on your own through tastyworks. Tastyworks also offers a great rate to open and close trades. The company offers capped commissions on equity option trades at $10 per leg. See how tastyworks compares against other brokers on equity option trades.


Etoro promotion


Invest in crypto. Get a $500 bonus.



Invest in crypto. Get a $500 bonus.


Get access to over a dozen of the most popular cryptocurrencies, all on an easy-to-use platform. Engage with other traders, dive into the data, and learn how to diversify with crypto. Sign up now and get a bonus $500 when you make a $5,000 trade.


Etoro empowers millions of users in over 140 countries to trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Etoro is an established and reliable leader in the global fintech industry and is a global pioneer in cryptocurrency trading. Etoro’s platform already offers many of the world’s most popular digital currencies.


Firstrade promotion


Trade smarter (includes benzinga research)



Trade smarter (includes benzinga research)


Seize opportunity no matter where you are with our android and iphone mobile apps. Comprehensive research & reports provided by morningstar, zacks and benzinga


Firstrade aims to empower its customers with the most advanced technology possible so you can access simpler and seamless ways to execute your investment strategies. It’s self-directed investing with no-cost trading.


Nadex promotion


Free sign up with nadex



Free sign up with nadex


Nadex offers their clients free account creation without pressure to trade until they are ready. This is perfect for those who are hesitant and only want to trade when ready.


As a nadex member, you can trade multiple markets and access an ongoing series of short-term trading opportunities, including hourly, daily and weekly contracts traded 5 days a week on desktop and mobile platforms. Nadex is a regulated financial exchange, which means it matches buyers and sellers and does not take positions in any markets.


Benzinga's #1 breakout stock every month


Looking for stocks that are about to breakout for gains of 10%, 15%, even 20% potentially or more? The only problem is finding these stocks takes hours per day. Fortunately, benzinga's breakout opportunity newsletter that could potentially break out each and every month. You can today with this special offer:


Hire a pro: compare financial advisors in your area


Finding the right financial advisor that fits your needs doesn't have to be hard. Smartasset's free tool matches you with fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by smartasset and is legally bound to act in your best interests. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.



Best broker promotions, deals, and bonuses of 2021


Modified date: january 20, 2021


Below is a list of 8 brokerage firms and their promotions, deals and bonuses. It’s up to you to decide which is the best offer for your particular situation, so we’ve listed them in alphabetical order for you to peruse. Enjoy!


Compare best brokerage promotions


Ally invest


Ally invest is currently offering a terrific cash promotion where new account holders can earn up to $3,500 when signing up. Details are as follows.



  • Up to $3,500 cash bonus – depending on how much money you have available to deposit, ally invest is prepared to give you a cash bonus of up to $3,500 on top of your deposit.

  • To qualify, accounts must be funded within 60 days of account opening. The qualifying deposit to open the new account must be made from outside ally invest. To receive the minimum cash bonus, you must invest a minimum of $10,000. This minimum must remain in the account (minus any trading losses) for a minimum of 90 days from the date of funding.



Robinhood


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.
Robinhood is an excellent platform for both new and experienced traders. Their app is easy to use, offers quick navigation to current news, and makes trading super simple. And right now, when you sign up for a new robinhood account, you’ll get one free stock added to your account.


Once you sign up and open the app, you’ll click the link to get a free stock. From there, robinhood will add one share of free stock to your account at random. The value of the share you receive may be anywhere between $2.50 and $200, and fluctuates based on market movements. You’ll be able to keep the stock or sell it after 2 trading days. Check out our full robinhood review to learn more.


Betterment


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.
Betterment is one of our favorite robo-advisors right now. And if you sign up, you can receive up to 12 months of free service from betterment. As long as you have an initial deposit of $15,000 or more.


There are tiered levels for free bonus management, which as a reminder, will wipe away the 0.25% management fee that betterment normally charges. And you have to deposit this money within 45 days after you sign up for an account. The offer is only available to U.S. Residents.


The current tiers are as follows:



  • $15,000 to $99,999, one month free

  • $100,000 to $249,999, six months free

  • $250,000 or more, one year free



So in order to get the full year free, you have to deposit at least $250,000 to your account. However, that’s a substantial savings when you consider even the 0.25% management fee. Make sure to check out our full betterment review for more information.


Charles schwab


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.
In addition to regular low stock trading fees of $8.95 per trade, charles schwab is currently offering 500 commission-free online trades for an entire year. The offer includes quarterly one-on-one check-in sessions with a trading coach over the course of the year.


In order to qualify, you need to open a new account and make a net deposit of $50,000 or more. The deposit must be made within 45 days of opening the new account.


Fidelity investments


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.
Fidelity investments already offers an attractive investment platform with regular stock trades at $7.95 per trade. But they are also offering a free trades bonus with both regular accounts and iras. The offer is open to both new accounts and new deposits into existing accounts.


Fidelity investments also uses a sliding scale but only two tiers for free trades



  • $50,000 – $99,999 deposit – 100 free trades

  • $100,000+ deposit – 200 free trades



The offer is open to both new and existing account holders. You must designate an existing eligible fidelity brokerage IRA or brokerage account or open and fund a new eligible fidelity brokerage IRA or brokerage account. The bonus will be calculated on net deposits into the qualifying account over a 60-day period from the time of registration.


Firsttrade


Firsttrade is offering up to 500 commission-free trades for 30 days. Eligibility rules require you to open a new account and deposit at least $2,000 into it within 30 days of opening. That’s on top of their already low stock trading fee of $6.95 per trade.


They are also offering cash bonuses for larger deposits, in addition to 500 commission-free trades for 30 days:



  • 500 free trades on $2,000 minimum deposit

  • $100 bonus + free trades on deposits between $25,000 and $49,999

  • $200 bonus + free trades on deposits between $50,000 and $99,999

  • $300 bonus + free trades on deposits over $100,000



The account must remain open for 12 months with the minimum funding or assets required for participating in the offer. If not, firsttrade may charge the account for the cash and commission credits awarded to the account. Qualified IRA account holders must also have a brokerage account with firsttrade to receive cash rewards.


Firsttrade does disclose that they will issue a form 1099 on bonuses paid of $600 or more during the calendar year.


Firsttrade is also offering to rebate up to $200 in transfer fees if you transfer at least $10,000 from another brokerage firm.


Merrill edge


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.
Merrill edge is offering 300 no-fee online trades when you open up a new account with them (the normal trading fee is $6.95 per trade). The free trade offer applies to trades on both stocks and etfs.


Along with the free trades, they are also offering the following bonus schedule:



  • $20,000 or more, $100 bonus

  • $50,000 or more, $150 bonus

  • $100,000 or more, $250 bonus

  • $200,000 or more, $600 bonus



On the surface, this doesn’t look as generous as the previous broker bonuses, but on closer inspection, you’ll see that the $600 kicks in at $200,000, while the others all require $250,000 to get the same bonus money.


The offer applies to new accounts only. You must make a qualifying deposit to your new account within 45 days and maintain the deposit for a minimum of 90 days. Like firsttrade, merrill edge confirms that they may issue a 1099 on the cash bonus.


The 14 Best Brokerage Account Promotions and Bonuses for 2021, best brokerage promotions.
USAA is offering 50 free trades.


To be eligible the trade must be an equity security, 1,000 shares or less, priced greater than $1, and placed through a self-service channel. Options are not subject to the free trades. After 50 free trades or 90 days (whichever comes first) the account will revert to your gold or platinum fee schedule, depending on asset and activity levels. The offer is good through december 31, 2015.



5 broker deals that'll pay you to open an account


If you're looking for a new brokerage, consider opening your account with one of these institutions. They’ll pay you a new account bonus on certain account types if you meet minimum deposit requirements and keep your account open for a specified length of time. (all promotional data presented is accurate as of may 2020.)


Key takeaways



  • With discount brokers cutting client fees and offering $0 trading commissions, the competitive landscape has never been better for individual investors and savers.

  • In order to lure in new clients (or steal them from the competition), many financial firms offer financial incentives to those who qualify.

  • Here, we present just five such offers that include cash bonuses, free trading, and higher-than-market incentive rates on savings products.


Charles schwab: $100 bonus or 500 commission-free trades


Charles schwab is offering a $100 referral bonus with a $1,000 deposit into a new schwab brokerage account. You can also get 500 commission-free trades with a $100,000 deposit; this deal is good for two years following the opening of the new account.  


Schwab also offers unlimited commission-free online trading on most stocks and etfs for all clients.  


Motif investing: 3 free months


On offer now at motif investing is 3 free months of their motif BLUE unlimited automated investment service. The offer is good only for first-time customers and is available when the new brokerage account application is approved.


For subscriptions starting at $4.95 per month, motif BLUE provides automated investing and rebalancing, real-time quotes, unlimited trading, and more.  



Navy federal credit union is offering a $100 bonus, and it's available nationwide. Investors taking advantage of this deal will also have access to an attractive CD rate of 3.75 percent APY when you open a new IRA CD.


To qualify for the bonus, the new account must be funded with an opening balance of at least $100 within 45 days of account opening. The bonus will be deposited into the account within 30 days of the qualifying opening deposit.


Ally invest $3,500 cash bonus + 90 days of commission-free trades


Available at ally is an ally invest $3,500 cash bonus offer, which offers a $3,500 cash bonus and commission-free trades for 90 days when you open a new ally invest account. To qualify, you must do the following:


1. Open a new self-directed trading account by january 31, 2019.


2. Fund your account within 60 days of account opening to earn a bonus based on your deposit amount:



  • $3,500 bonus + free trades for $2,000,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $2,500 bonus + free trades for $1,000,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $1,200 bonus + free trades for $500,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $600 bonus + free trades for $250,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $300 bonus + free trades for $100,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $200 bonus + free trades for $25,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $50 bonus + free trades for $10,000+ deposit or transfer


3. Receive the bonus cash credit to your account within 10 business days of meeting the promotional requirements.


4. Once the account is credited, the bonus and initial qualifying deposit are not available for withdrawal for 300 days after the requirements have been met.  


Get up to 500 commission-free trades at E*TRADE, plus up to a $600 cash credit


If you decide to go with an E*TRADE account, there are a few things you'll need to know. First, you must fund your account within 60 days by transferring funds from an external source. Here's how it works:



  • Deposit at least $10,000 into your new account.

  • Get up to 500 commission-free trades for stocks or options within 60 days of funding your new trading account. This excludes options contract fees.

  • Your first 29 stock or options trades are charged $6.95 (plus $0.75 cents for each options contract), while trades after that are charged $4.95 (plus $0.50 per options contract) up to 500 trades.

  • Commissions are credited back to your account within a week of the settled trade.

  • E*TRADE does not compensate for any unused commission-free trades.

  • There is a separate commission schedule for stock plan account transactions.


E*TRADE makes credits for cash or securities within 60 days of the account open, depending on deposits to the account from external sources. Credits are made within a week after the 60-period. Here's how the credit is broken down:  



  • Deposit $1,000,000+, receive $2,500 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $500,000–$999,999, receive $1,200 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $250,000–$499,999, receive $600 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $100,000–$249,999, receive $300 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $25,000–$99,999, receive $200 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $10,000–$24,999, receive only commission-free trades


E*trade offers unlimited commission-free online trading on most stocks and etfs for all clients.  


The bottom line


These promotions aren’t a good way to make a quick buck, and the bonuses are relatively small, often 1 percent or less of the amount you’re required to deposit. What's more, in many cases, taxes or commissions will erode the value of your bonus.


An account-opening bonus is, however, a good incentive to give a brokerage, bank or credit union a closer look if you were thinking about opening a new account anyway. Just make sure the account type you’re opening is the best option for your long-term needs, that you’ll still come out ahead after any fees and that you aren’t depositing money you might need in the near term.



Best brokerage bonuses – earn up to $3,500


Our posts on the best bank account bonuses and best credit card bonuses are some of the most popular on the site, recently I’ve been trying to post more brokerage bonuses as I know some people use these to make some extra money and it helps them grow their investments. This post will be for the best brokerage bonuses, I’m relatively new to these so I’d welcome your input on bonuses we might have missed and any relevant important information you think should be included. Unlike other sites we don’t use affiliate links for brokerage bonuses so you can ensure you’re getting the best possible deal, rather than the one that pays us the most.


Tastyworks – 100 shares (worth average of $220 total)


Requires a deposit of $2,000+


Citi wealth management – up to $3,500


Huge bonus and it works for self directed accounts, main issue is that account set up is all manual and extremely slow.



  • Read our full post

  • Deposits must be maintained for three months after account opening (but you can fund within two months of account opening meaning funds can be in there for roughly


Schwab – up to $500


This offer is for new schwab members who get referred from a friend; ask a friend who is an existing schwab member. Largest bonus of $500 requires an investment of $100,000+.



  • Read our full post

  • Deposit must be maintained for one year



E*trade – up to $3,500


Largest bonus requires an investment of $1,000,000+, so might be worth focusing on this for higher rollers who have already done the bonuses where funds need to be maintained for a shorter period of time.



  • Read our full post

  • Deposit must be maintained for six months



Interactive brokers – up to $1,000


Promotion is a bit confusing as it’s not that clear when/how long the funds need to be in your account for. You also get the bonus in the form of interactive brokers shares and these can’t be sold for one year.


Ally invest – up to $3,500


$3,500 level needs $2MM+ invested



  • Read our full post

  • Funds need to remain in account for 300 days after the bonus posts (and that’s 60 days after account opening so roughly one year in total)

  • Transfer out fee of $50 applies to both partial and full transfers



Merrill edge – up to $1,000


Tradestation – up to $2,500


Maximum bonus requires a transfer of $1,000,000+ but the smallest bonus requires $25,000+


M1 finance – up to $2,500


Maximum bonus requires a transfer of $1,000,000+, but the smallest bonus of $100 just requires $20,000.


Sofi invest – invest $1,000+, get $50 bonus


$100 bonus is in the form of a fractional share of a company. Only available via referral. Not as good as when it was $75.


Tradestation – deposit $500, get $100


Small deposit requirement, although some people have had issues with tradesation so remember to read the comments.


Tradeup – $50 + free stocks


Requires a deposit or transfer of $3,000+


Smaller bonuses – no requirement


There are a number of smaller brokerages that offer sign up bonuses with no deposit requirement. The bonuses are much smaller, but might still be worth picking up for some people.


Stash invest – $50


Requires a direct deposit of $300+


Acorns – $23


$13.50 is from swagbucks, other $10 is from acorns.



  • Read our full review

  • No deposit requirement



Robinhood – free stock


You only get a free stock worth $3-$150, but better than nothing and robinhood offers commission free trading.



  • Read our full post

  • No deposit requirement



Webull – free stock


Basically the same as robinhood, you get a stock valued between $3 and $1,000.



  • Read our full post

  • No deposit required



Firstrade – free stock


Same as the above offers.



  • Read our full post

  • No deposit required



Dough – free stock


Free stock valued at $5-$10.



  • Read our full review

  • Deposit of $100 required to withdraw



Bonuses not listed


Below are some brokerage bonuses we don’t want listed under the ‘best brokerage bonuses’, we are including them here so that readers know they have been intentionally left out and why.



  • Betterment 30,000 american airlines bonus. Bonus is relatively small and you need betterment to manage your funds, not worth doing with the fees involved.

  • Personal capital. Current referral bonus is $20-$50 amazon gift card, but we’ve seen bonuses as high as $100 in the past.

  • TD ameritrade. Seen higher bonuses in the past.




Best IRA rollover promotions: see 5 brokers that pay you to rollover your IRA


Updated january 21, 2021


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If you’ve been looking to roll over your 401(k) into a rollover IRA, it’s one of the best times to take advantage of stock brokerage promotions.


Stockbrokers offer promotions that can get into the thousands of dollars because they know you can bring thousands of dollars to your new account. They are always looking for new deposits, just like banks, and they’ll pay you because they know moving an IRA is a lot of work. Once you move it to a new brokerage account, chances are you’ll stick with that account for a while.


Best of all, for you, it’s free money that has no immediate tax consequences because a rollover IRA is a tax-deferred investment vehicle. Everyone wins!


These offers are always changing so if you see one you like, you want to take advantage of it immediately. We will try to keep them as up to date as possible.


We’ll tell you the best IRA rollover promotions you can get right now, including what to watch out for:


Ally invest – up to $3,500



This offer is not for a rollover IRA but it’s so strong we had to list it. It’s for a self-directed ally invest account – you can get a cash bonus of up to $3,500 based on how much you deposit. The only requirement is that you didn’t have an ally invest account within the last 90 days.


We list them first because they have, by far, the highest bonus if you have a large brokerage account and the minimum amount to get a bonus is $10,000 – most other brokerages only pay a bonus at $25,000 or more.


Here is the ally invest bonus structure:


Deposit or transfer
amount
your bonus
$10,000 – $24,999$50
$25,000 – $99,999$200
$100,000 – $249,999$300
$250,000 – $499,999$600
$500,000 – $999,999$1,200
$1,000,000 – $1,999,999$2,500
$2,000,000 or more$3,500


Ally invest offers free trades as well as ACAT fee reimbursement of up to $150 when you transfer $2,500 or more.


TD ameritrade – up to $2,500



TD ameritrade is always offering a great promotion whenever you open a brokerage account with them and this one is applicable to both iras and regular brokerage accounts. The bonus is based on how much you deposit into your new account.


Here is the TD ameritrade bonus structure:



  • Deposit $25,000 – $99,999, get $100 cash

  • Deposit $100,000 – $249,999, get $300 cash

  • Deposit $250,000 – $499,999, get $600 cash

  • Deposit $500,000 – $999,999, get $1,200 cash

  • Deposit $1,000,000+, get $2,500 cash



TD ameritrade is one of the brokerages that also offers free trades but there is no ACAT fee reimbursement.


Also, in the fine print, “offer is not valid on tax-exempt trusts, 401(k) accounts, keogh plans, profit sharing plans, money purchase plans, accounts managed by TD ameritrade investment management, LLC, TD ameritrade institutional accounts, or current TD ameritrade accounts.”


Merrill edge – up to $600



Merrill edge, a bank of america company, has a juicy offer of up to $600 if you open a new merrill edge self-directed brokerage account. Don’t let the title fool you, a merrill edge IRA and a merrill edge cash management account qualify. In the IRA category, this includes rollover, traditional, roth, and owner-only SEP-IRA accounts too.


Here is the merrill edge bonus structure:



  • Deposit $20,000 – $49,999, get $100 cash

  • Deposit $50,000 – $99,999, get $150 cash

  • Deposit $100,000 – $199,999, get $250 cash

  • Deposit $200,000+, get $600 cash



Merrill edge offers free trades but there is no ACAT fee reimbursement.


Charles schwab – up to $500



Charles schwab has a refer a friend program where you can get a bonus for transferring assets as long as an existing client refers you. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone with an account so I can’t set this up for you.


Here is the charles schwab bonus structure:



  • Deposit $1,000 – $24,999, get $100 cash

  • Deposit $25,000 – $49,999, get $200 cash

  • Deposit $50,000 – $99,999, get $300 cash

  • Deposit $100,000+, get $500 cash



The person making the referral doesn’t get anything, unfortunately. The link below will tell you more about the program but you will still need to find someone to refer you.


Firstrade – up to $200



Firstrade used to have a generous offer for both rollover iras and new accounts. I will keep this expired offer listed here just in case it comes back (and as a reference). To get it, just open an account, deposit at least $5,000 and you’ll get a cash bonus.


Here is the firstrade bonus structure:



  • Deposit $5,000 – $9,999, get $25 cash

  • Deposit $10,000 – $24,999, get $50 cash

  • Deposit $25,000 – $49,999, get $100 cash

  • Deposit $50,000 – $99,999, get $200 cash

  • Deposit $100,000 – $249,999, get $300 cash

  • Deposit $250,000+, get $600 cash



Firstrade also offers free trades as well as ACAT fee reimbursement of up to $200 when you switch. The ACAT refund is the only active offer for firstrade right now.


What to watch for


Most brokerages are the same. They have comparable technology, market research, similar apps, and trade execution speeds – none of those are a differentiator. What you want is a well-designed interface so you can easily do what you need to without having to navigate a mess of menus. With it being a rollover IRA, even the tax reporting isn’t a big deal because taxes on capital gains are deferred.


So what is there to watch out for?


Fees. Does the brokerage has a minimum balance requirement and does it charge a maintenance fee? Most will not require a minimum or require an annual fee but some still do, so keep an eye out for it.


Normally, when you transfer assets from one brokerage to another – there is a fee. With a full transfer of assets, the fee is known as an ACAT transfer. ACAT is the system that is used to transfer the assets and the fee can be quite steep. Some brokers will reimburse that fee when you transfer in money while others won’t. This can cut into your bonus payout.


You can avoid this by liquidating your assets, transferring cash, and repurchasing them. Since it’s an IRA, this wouldn’t trigger a taxable event but you are no longer investing the money during the transfer period. Being out of the market, especially in periods of extreme volatility, can be risky.


This is less of a concern with a rollover because in most cases, you will liquidate your positions, get a check or wire transfer, and deposit that into the new rollover IRA. You have 60 days to deposit that check into your rollover IRA too but this is often not a concern if you stay on top of it. Two months is a long time.


Finally, the bonus is not considered your contributions when you receive it. When you fulfill the bonus obligations, the account will earn the bonus cash as “dividends or interest” and there are no tax consequences. It’s as if one of your holdings paid you dividends or interest.


If you keep all these in mind, you can take advantage of a rollover IRA bonus and earn extra cash to your IRA.



5 broker deals that'll pay you to open an account


If you're looking for a new brokerage, consider opening your account with one of these institutions. They’ll pay you a new account bonus on certain account types if you meet minimum deposit requirements and keep your account open for a specified length of time. (all promotional data presented is accurate as of may 2020.)


Key takeaways



  • With discount brokers cutting client fees and offering $0 trading commissions, the competitive landscape has never been better for individual investors and savers.

  • In order to lure in new clients (or steal them from the competition), many financial firms offer financial incentives to those who qualify.

  • Here, we present just five such offers that include cash bonuses, free trading, and higher-than-market incentive rates on savings products.


Charles schwab: $100 bonus or 500 commission-free trades


Charles schwab is offering a $100 referral bonus with a $1,000 deposit into a new schwab brokerage account. You can also get 500 commission-free trades with a $100,000 deposit; this deal is good for two years following the opening of the new account.  


Schwab also offers unlimited commission-free online trading on most stocks and etfs for all clients.  


Motif investing: 3 free months


On offer now at motif investing is 3 free months of their motif BLUE unlimited automated investment service. The offer is good only for first-time customers and is available when the new brokerage account application is approved.


For subscriptions starting at $4.95 per month, motif BLUE provides automated investing and rebalancing, real-time quotes, unlimited trading, and more.  



Navy federal credit union is offering a $100 bonus, and it's available nationwide. Investors taking advantage of this deal will also have access to an attractive CD rate of 3.75 percent APY when you open a new IRA CD.


To qualify for the bonus, the new account must be funded with an opening balance of at least $100 within 45 days of account opening. The bonus will be deposited into the account within 30 days of the qualifying opening deposit.


Ally invest $3,500 cash bonus + 90 days of commission-free trades


Available at ally is an ally invest $3,500 cash bonus offer, which offers a $3,500 cash bonus and commission-free trades for 90 days when you open a new ally invest account. To qualify, you must do the following:


1. Open a new self-directed trading account by january 31, 2019.


2. Fund your account within 60 days of account opening to earn a bonus based on your deposit amount:



  • $3,500 bonus + free trades for $2,000,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $2,500 bonus + free trades for $1,000,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $1,200 bonus + free trades for $500,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $600 bonus + free trades for $250,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $300 bonus + free trades for $100,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $200 bonus + free trades for $25,000+ deposit or transfer

  • $50 bonus + free trades for $10,000+ deposit or transfer


3. Receive the bonus cash credit to your account within 10 business days of meeting the promotional requirements.


4. Once the account is credited, the bonus and initial qualifying deposit are not available for withdrawal for 300 days after the requirements have been met.  


Get up to 500 commission-free trades at E*TRADE, plus up to a $600 cash credit


If you decide to go with an E*TRADE account, there are a few things you'll need to know. First, you must fund your account within 60 days by transferring funds from an external source. Here's how it works:



  • Deposit at least $10,000 into your new account.

  • Get up to 500 commission-free trades for stocks or options within 60 days of funding your new trading account. This excludes options contract fees.

  • Your first 29 stock or options trades are charged $6.95 (plus $0.75 cents for each options contract), while trades after that are charged $4.95 (plus $0.50 per options contract) up to 500 trades.

  • Commissions are credited back to your account within a week of the settled trade.

  • E*TRADE does not compensate for any unused commission-free trades.

  • There is a separate commission schedule for stock plan account transactions.


E*TRADE makes credits for cash or securities within 60 days of the account open, depending on deposits to the account from external sources. Credits are made within a week after the 60-period. Here's how the credit is broken down:  



  • Deposit $1,000,000+, receive $2,500 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $500,000–$999,999, receive $1,200 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $250,000–$499,999, receive $600 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $100,000–$249,999, receive $300 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $25,000–$99,999, receive $200 + commission-free trades

  • Deposit $10,000–$24,999, receive only commission-free trades


E*trade offers unlimited commission-free online trading on most stocks and etfs for all clients.  


The bottom line


These promotions aren’t a good way to make a quick buck, and the bonuses are relatively small, often 1 percent or less of the amount you’re required to deposit. What's more, in many cases, taxes or commissions will erode the value of your bonus.


An account-opening bonus is, however, a good incentive to give a brokerage, bank or credit union a closer look if you were thinking about opening a new account anyway. Just make sure the account type you’re opening is the best option for your long-term needs, that you’ll still come out ahead after any fees and that you aren’t depositing money you might need in the near term.





So, let's see, what we have: looking to open up a new brokerage account? I've researched countless offerings and put together this list of best brokerage account promotions. At best brokerage promotions

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