Earns Five-Star Rating in Both Research and
User Experience from Kiplinger’s “Best Online Brokers” Survey1
Bank of America announced today that Merrill Edge® has surpassed
$200 billion in investment assets under management and more than
2.5 million accounts. Merrill Edge’s growth represents a 54 percent
increase over the past three years.
Merrill Edge is a streamlined financial platform that offers
access to online and advised investing, trading, brokerage and
banking services. Clients can be self-directed; work with a
Financial Solutions Advisor™; or access Merrill Edge Guided
Investing, an online advisory program that offers Global Wealth and
Investment Management CIO-directed portfolio management strategies.
Merrill Edge also works with Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust to
support clients’ needs as they become more complex – giving clients
access to our full wealth management offering.
Merrill Edge has been offering qualified clients access to
commission-free online, stock and ETF trades since launching,
including up to 100 free trades per month depending on the depth of
the relationship.
“We’ve offered commission-free trading since 2006, and our goal
is to provide accessibility to all our clients who qualify in Bank
of America’s Preferred Rewards program,” said Aron Levine, head of
Consumer Banking and Merrill Edge. “Since 2010, Merrill Edge has
offered clients online tools and resources to help them make more
informed investment decisions.”
Preferred Rewards recognizes client loyalty through a
three-tiered program based on qualifying Bank of America, Merrill
Edge, and Merrill Lynch accounts.
Leading digital innovation and researchMerrill Edge
recently received five out of five stars from Kiplinger’s “Best
Online Brokers” survey for its user experience and research. The
recognition follows this year’s launch of two new, patent-pending
experiences for self-directed investors, helping them make more
informed investing decisions:
- Stock Story helps clients
discover critical information about companies in a new, innovative
way without complex investment jargon.
- Portfolio Story provides
step-by-step guidance to key elements of clients’ accounts, helping
them seamlessly find answers to critical investment questions.
Merrill Edge also recently redesigned its mobile app to further
streamline the investment process based upon clients’ feedback,
including a customizable dashboard and planning tools. The app
allows users to trade stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options ‒ all
from their mobile device.
Expanding advice access and specialty centersEarlier this
year, Merrill Edge announced it would add 600 new investment
centers to its footprint, bringing its nationwide total to 2,800 by
2020. Merrill Edge will also have more than 4,000 Financial
Solutions Advisors across the country by year-end to meet the
growing demand for investment services.
The expansion effort is part of Bank of America’s broader
strategy to invest in both its physical and digital presence across
the United States, entering new markets and redesigning more than a
third of its existing financial centers. Bank of America has
4,400 financial centers across the United States, including 2,200
with dedicated, on-site Merrill Edge Financial Solutions Advisors
and another 770 with video conferencing capabilities.
Transforming the investment landscapeMerrill Edge was one
of the first platforms to develop an online investment advisory
program that combines the best of online investing with a
professionally managed portfolio. Merrill Edge Guided Investing is
an online investing service that provides access to investment
strategies managed by the Global Wealth Management Chief Investment
Office, as opposed to an algorithm.
According to the most recent Merrill Edge Report, emerging
technologies are drastically shaping where, how and when investors
seek financial guidance. One in five respondents report being more
likely to rely on digital than in-person advice, and 69 percent
believe all financial decisions will be made with the help of
technology in their lifetime, further indicating consumers’ desire
for the best of both the digital and physical resources when it
comes to financial decision-making.
To learn more about Merrill Edge and these updates, visit
merrilledge.com.
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 AmericaBank of America 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
67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately
4,400 retail financial centers, including more than 1,700 lending
centers, more than 1,900 Merrill Edge investment centers and more
than 1,300 business centers; approximately 16,100 ATMs; and
award-winning digital banking with more than 36 million active
users, including 25 million mobile users. Bank of America 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 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
1 Merrill Edge was ranked five out of eight online brokers by
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s “Best Online Brokers” survey,
October 2018. To be included, firms had to offer online stock
trading, ETFs, funds and individual bonds. Results based on ratings
in the following categories: Total Commissions Score, Breadth of
Investment Choices, Tools, Research, Ease of Use, Mobile Access,
and Advisory Services. Learn more at
https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/investing/T052-S002-best-online-brokers-2018/index.html
from Kiplinger's Personal Finance, October 2018 © 2018 The
Kiplinger Washington Editors. Used under license. Merrill Edge
provides access to research from BofA Merrill Lynch Global
Research, CFRA (powered by S&P Global), Morningstar and others.
The ranking or ratings shown here may not be representative of all
client experiences because they reflect an average or sampling of
the client experiences. These rankings or ratings are not
indicative of any future performance or investment outcome.
Neither Merrill Lynch nor any of its affiliates or financial
advisors provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should
consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial
decisions.
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and
affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of
Bank of America Corporation.
Merrill Edge® is available through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S), and consists of the Merrill
Edge Advisory Center (investment guidance) and self-directed online
investing.
MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment
advisor, Member SIPC and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America
Corporation.
Investment products:
Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not
Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value
© 2018 Bank of America Corporation.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180911005141/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 Feb 2024 to Mar 2024
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024