NinjaTrader's $100 Bonus: A Knockout Deal or a Trap?

If you've been thinking about dipping your toes into futures trading, NinjaTrader has a promotion that might catch your eye. They're giving new customers a $100 bonus when they deposit at least $100 into a new live trading account. Sounds like free money, right? Well, sort of. Let's break down what's really going on here, because there are a few gotchas that could turn this sweet deal sour if you're not careful.

The Deal in a Nutshell

NinjaTrader is celebrating their partnership with UFC by giving new customers a $100 credit. You just need to open a new live trading account and deposit at least $100 in cleared funds within 30 days of creating your profile. Once that's done, the bonus lands in your account within a week.

But here's the kicker: that $100 isn't immediately yours to play with. You can't withdraw it or transfer it for 60 days. And before it's posted, you can't use it for trading or margin either. So it's more of a 'thank you for sticking around' than a 'here's some instant cash' deal.

The Fine Print That Could Bite You

There are a few eligibility rules that might trip you up. This offer is only for new individual customers. So if you're thinking about opening a joint account or an IRA, you're out of luck. Also, if you're classified as a professional market-data subscriber by any exchange, you don't qualify. And you can't combine this with any other promo, so don't try to stack deals.

Now, the real trap: the inactivity fee. If you don't make at least one trade in the live environment every 30 days, NinjaTrader will hit you with a $35 fee. That's a big chunk of your $100 bonus if you're not careful. So you'll need to stay active, which means at least a trade a month. The good news is that micro futures contracts have low commissions, so you can make a tiny trade for about a buck. But you'll need to do this for at least 60 days (the bonus lock-up period) and probably 90 days if you want to close the account without issues.

Market Data Fees: The Hidden Cost

During sign-up, you'll be asked about market data subscriptions. These aren't free, and if you're not careful, you could end up paying for data you don't need. The trick is to opt out of all paid market data at the very bottom of the screen. There's some free data available, but if your balance drops to $0, they'll charge you $12. So just opt out entirely to avoid any surprise fees.

If you accidentally sign up for a paid data plan, you can cancel it later through your account settings. But it's easier to just say no from the start.

Is It Worth It?

Let's do the math. You deposit $100, get $100 bonus, and then you need to make at least three trades (one per month) to avoid the inactivity fee. Each trade costs about $1 in commission, so that's $3 out of pocket. After 60 days, you can withdraw your $200, minus the $3 in commissions, leaving you with $197. That's still a nice $97 profit for a little bit of effort.

But there's a catch: you have to actually make trades. If you're not interested in futures trading, this isn't a free $100. You'll be forced to engage with the platform, which might not be your thing. Also, there's a chance the inactivity fee could hit you if you forget to trade, so set a reminder.

Overall, if you're curious about futures trading and want a little bonus to get started, this is a decent deal. Just be aware of the fees and the trading requirement. And if you decide it's not for you, closing the account is straightforward—just zero out your balance and follow their closure process.

Bottom Line

• Deposit $100 to get $100, but you can't withdraw the bonus for 60 days.
• Avoid the $35 inactivity fee by making at least one trade every 30 days.
• Opt out of paid market data during sign-up to avoid extra charges.
• This offer is only for new individual customers; no joint or IRA accounts.

Common Questions