Schwab has the best checking accounts out there, I use them. But I use Merrill Edge as a commission-free brokerage (30 trades per month with $50k assets, 100 t

Schwab has the best checking accounts out there, I use them. But I use Merrill Edge as a commission-free brokerage (30 trades per month with $50k assets, 100 trades per month with $100k assets). The upside (apart from not being limited to iShares at Fidelity and Schwab at Schwab) is in the credit card, which beats Fidelity. Bank of America Travel Rewards rates: * $50k+ Merrill Edge Balance: 2.25% travel rewards cash back * $100k+ Merrill Edge Balance: 2.625% travel rewards cash back Bank of America Cash Rewards: * $100k+ Merrill Edge Balance: 3.5% groceries, 5.25% gas cash back. Great deal. Oh, and they'll often pay you about 0.5% (up to $1000) of assets to transfer your equities in. Holding Vanguard/Schwab/iShares ETFs there is a dream for a personal finance geek. The credit card deal alone makes it all worthwhile.