Merrill Lynch and Merrill Edge today launched five new
portfolios incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG)
factors in response to growing demand for investments with the
potential to produce positive societal outcomes without sacrificing
financial returns.1
Designed by the Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM)
Chief Investment Office (CIO), the new CIO Core Impact Portfolios
incorporate the CIO’s disciplined investment process, portfolio
construction views, portfolio management and oversight
routines.
They consist primarily of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and
require a minimum investment of $5,000. The five portfolios model
investor profiles ranging from conservative to aggressive. These
offerings expand upon an existing array of impact offerings on both
the Merrill Lynch and Merrill Edge platforms.
“The demand for ESG-integrated investment options has
increased as more investors are seeking a ‘double bottom-line’
approach to investing and a way to add an environmental or societal
impact objective to a financial return,” said Chris Hyzy, chief
investment officer for GWIM.
“These new portfolios are part of the ongoing expansion of our
investment offerings and build upon a broad platform of both
solutions and thought leadership in the impact arena,” added Keith
Banks, vice chairman of GWIM and head of the CIO and the Investment
Solutions Group for Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust.
Growing demand for impact investing
Impact investing is a way for clients to align their investments
with their values while seeking competitive returns.1 Impact
investing in the U.S. has gathered momentum over the last two
years. According to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible
Investment, $8.72 trillion was invested in impact-related
investments at the start of 2016, an increase of 33 percent since
2014.2 Interest is particularly strong among younger investors and
women, studies have found.3
Millennials have the highest proportion of assets deployed in
ESG-oriented strategies and also have the greatest interest in
adding exposure to these strategies; approximately 90 percent
either engage in impact investing or want to. This group alone
could drive $15-$20 trillion of inflows over the next two to three
decades, roughly doubling the size of the U.S. equity market.4
Broad commitment by Bank of America Corporation
Bank of America Corporation has broadly embraced a commitment to
responsible growth and ESG leadership throughout its eight lines of
business, seeking sustainable growth and finding innovative ways to
deploy capital to address global challenges, including climate
change, clean water, affordable housing, and others.
Recognizing the power of financial capital to make a positive
environmental impact, the company has committed to deploy $125
billion in financing by 2025 to accelerate the transition to a
low-carbon, sustainable economy. From 2007 through 2017, Bank of
America Merrill Lynch has been the No. 1 underwriter of green bonds
globally.5 As of March 31, Bank of America Corporation’s investment
businesses had more than $16.2 billion in client balances with a
clearly defined ESG approach.6
Over the last three years, the company has strengthened its ESG
focus, putting renewed emphasis on implementing ESG policies that
create jobs, transform communities, foster economic mobility and
seek solutions and opportunities to help families, businesses and
communities prosper and thrive.
For more information about impact investing, please visit
www.ML.com/impactinvesting or www.MerrillEdge.com/impactinvesting.
The new portfolios will be available through Merrill Lynch and
Merrill Edge financial advisors.
1 Impact investing and/or environmental, social and governance
(ESG) managers may take into consideration factors beyond
traditional financial information to select securities, which could
result in relative investment performance deviating from other
strategies or broad market benchmarks, depending on whether such
sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market.
Further, ESG strategies may rely on certain values-based criteria
to eliminate exposures found in similar strategies or broad market
benchmarks, which could also result in relative investment
performance deviating.
2 U.S. SIF Foundation, Report on U.S. Sustainable, Responsible
and Impact Investing Trends 2016, November 2016
3 The Cerulli Edge®, 3Q 2016, Issue No. 4, the Gender and Advice
Issue
4 BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research “ESG: Good Companies Make
Good Stocks,” Equity and Quant Strategy, December 18, 2016
5 Environmental Finance Green Bond Database at
http://www.greenbonddata.org
6 Source: GWIM Finance, Bank of America Corporation as of March
31, 2018
Merrill Lynch Wealth ManagementMerrill Lynch Wealth Management
is a leading provider of comprehensive wealth management and
investment services for individuals and businesses globally. With
14,829 financial advisors and $2.3 trillion in client balances as
of March 31, 2018, it is among the largest businesses of its kind
in the world. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management specializes in
goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement,
education, legacy, and other life goals through investment, cash
and credit management. Within Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, the
Private Banking and Investment Group focuses on the unique and
personalized needs of wealthy individuals, families and their
businesses. These clients are served by more than 200 highly
specialized private wealth advisor teams, along with experts in
areas such as investment management, concentrated stock management
and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies. Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management is part of Bank of America Corporation.
Merrill EdgeMerrill Edge is a streamlined investment service
that provides access to the investment insights of Merrill Lynch
and the convenience of Bank of America banking. With Merrill Edge,
clients can view their Merrill Edge investment and Bank of America
bank accounts on one page online. They also have access to
easy-to-use tools, actionable insights, step-by-step guidance and
competitive pricing for online trades.
Bank of America CorporationBank of America Corporation is one of
the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual
consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large
corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk management products and
services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United
States, serving approximately 47 million consumer and small
business relationships with approximately 4,400 retail financial
centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital
banking with approximately 36 million active users, including
approximately 25 million mobile users. Bank of America Corporation
is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment
banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving
corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the
world. Bank of America Corporation offers industry-leading support
to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of
innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company
serves clients through operations across the United States, its
territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation
stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements
and other important information, visit the Bank of America
newsroom. Click here to register for news email alerts.
www.bankofamerica.com
Investing in securities involves risks, and there is always
the potential of losing money when you invest in
securities.
Neither Merrill Lynch nor any of its affiliates or financial
advisors provides legal, tax or accounting advice. You should
consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial
decisions.
Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for Merrill Lynch Wealth
Management and Merrill Edge®, both of which are made available
through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
(“MLPF&S”). Merrill Edge® is available through MLPF&S and
consists of the Merrill Edge Advisory Center (investment guidance)
and self-directed online investing.
Merrill Lynch makes available products and services offered by
MLPF&S and other subsidiaries of Bank of America
Corporation.
The Private Banking and Investment Group is a division of
MLPF&S that offers a broad array of personalized wealth
management products and services. Both brokerage and investment
advisory services (including financial planning) are offered by the
Group's Private Wealth Advisors through MLPF&S. The nature and
degree of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and
client rights and Merrill Lynch's obligations will differ among
these services. The banking, credit and trust services sold by the
Group's Private Wealth Advisors are offered by licensed banks and
trust companies, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC, and
other affiliated banks.
Trust and fiduciary services are provided by U.S. Trust, a
division of Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and
affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of
Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”)
MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and wholly
owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.
“Bank of America Merrill Lynch” is the marketing name for the
global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America
Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking
activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of
America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC.
Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking
activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates
of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates”),
including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing
Corp., both of which are registered broker-dealers and members of
SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill
Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures
commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA.
Investment products:
Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose
Value
© 2018 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502005562/en/
Reporters May Contact:Susan Atran, Bank of America,
1.646.743.0791susan.atran@bankofamerica.com
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024