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Personal Investing and Trading

Ready, set, invest

Investing with Merrill isn't just simple, it's personalized. Find the right accounts, the right investments and the right amount of support for you.

A full range of investment choices

Build your own portfolio with a wide range of investment choices or have your portfolio managed by Merrill investment professionals with Merrill Guided Investing
Stocks
“I want to invest in publicly-traded companies.”
Stocks can offer investors:
  • A variety of investment choices
  • The potential for higher returns
  • Income potential
Mutual Funds
“I want built-in diversification and a professionally managed asset.”
Mutual funds can offer investors:
  • Built-in diversification
  • Professionally managed funds
  • Solutions for long-term investing
ETFs
“I want built-in diversification and trading flexibility.”
ETFs can offer investors:
  • The ability to trade throughout the day
  • Potential tax-efficiency
  • Income potential
Fixed Income
“I want portfolio diversification and a steady income stream.”
Fixed income products can offer investors:
  • A steady income stream ideal for retirement
  • A more diversified portfolio
  • Potential risk mitigation
Options
“I want the potential for higher percentage returns and the possibility of mitigating risk.”
Options can offer investors:
  • The potential for higher percentage returns
  • A way to mitigate risks
  • Opportunity to pursue speculative, hedging or income objectives
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain requirements must be met to trade options. Before engaging in the purchase or sale of options, investors should understand the nature of and extent of their rights and obligations and be aware of the risks involved in investing with options. Please read the options disclosure document titled "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (PDF)" before considering any option transaction. You may also call the Investment Center at 877.653.4732 for a copy. A separate client agreement is needed. Multi-leg option orders are charged one base commission per order, plus a per-contract charge.

The maximum loss, gain and breakeven of any options strategy only remains as defined so long as the strategy contains all original positions. Trading, rolling, assignment, or exercise of any portion of the strategy will result in a new maximum loss, gain and breakeven calculation, which will be materially different from the calculation when the strategy remains intact with all of the contemplated legs or positions. This is applicable to all options strategies inclusive of long options, short options and spreads. To learn more about Merrill's uncovered option handling practices, view Naked Option Stress Analysis (NOSA) (PDF).

Early assignment risk is always present for option writers (specific to American-style options only). Early assignment risk may be amplified in the event a call writer is short an option during the period the underlying security has an ex-dividend date. This is referred to as dividend risk.

Long options are exercised and short options are assigned. Note that American-style options can be assigned/exercised at any time through the day of expiration without prior notice. Options can be assigned/exercised after market close on expiration day. View specific Merrill Option Exercise & Assignment Practices (PDF).

Supporting documentation for any claims, comparison, recommendations, statistics, or other technical data, will be supplied upon request.
Margin Trading
“I want greater profit potential and increased buying power.”
Margin trading can offer investors:
  • The ability to use another party's money to increase buying power
  • More profit potential than traditional trading
  • The ability to profit from declining share prices
NEW OFFER
$0
program fees
Footnotes **Conditions and
other fees apply

Get started with Merrill Guided Investing and pay $0 in program fees for 6 months.Footnote 5

Open an account at Merrill
Must use offer code: 6FREE

Accounts personalized to all your investing needs

Whether you need a single account to grow your wealth or several accounts to support multiple objectives, we'll help you define the experience that works for you.
Q:
Can I have more than one account?
A:
Yes, having multiple accounts is a great way to support multiple financial goals.
Q:
Can I have a Self-Directed and a managed account?
A:
Yes, you can pursue multiple goals with a mix of Self-Directed and fully managed accounts.
Q:
Can I trade stocks in a Merrill Guided Investing managed account?
A:
Merrill Guided Investing accounts include ETFs and mutual funds, which may contain stocks.
General investing accounts are a great way to invest for a range of goals individually, jointly or on behalf of a minor.
Put your investing ideas into action with unlimited $0 online stock, ETF and option trades, with no annual account fees or balance minimums.Footnote 1 Options contract and other fees may apply.Footnote *
Available General Investing accounts
Managed by Merrill

Merrill Guided Investing

Investment advisory programs
Learn More about Guided Investing

Merrill Guided Investing

An investment advisory program
Pursue your online investing goals with a professionally managed portfolio with a 0.45% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 2, 4
New offer
$
0
program fee for 6 months for new enrollmentsFootnote 5
Must use offer code: 6FREE
Footnotes **Conditions and other fees apply
Available General Investing accounts

Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor

An investment advisory program
Establish your investing online goals with the help of an advisor and get one-on-one guidance when you need it with a 0.85% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 3, 4
Available General Investing accounts
Learn more about general investing accounts
Retirement accounts are a great way to plan ahead and make the most of your future after work.
Put your investing ideas into action with unlimited $0 online stock, ETF and option trades, with no annual account fees or balance minimums.Footnote 1 Options contract and other fees may apply.Footnote *
Available retirement accounts
Managed by Merrill

Merrill Guided Investing

Investment advisory programs
Learn More about Guided Investing

Merrill Guided Investing

An investment advisory program
Pursue your online investing goals with a professionally managed portfolio with a 0.45% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 2, 4
Available retirement accounts

Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor

An investment advisory program
Establish your investing online goals with the help of an advisor and get one-on-one guidance when you need it with a 0.85% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 3, 4
Available retirement accounts
Learn more about retirement accounts
Education accounts are a great way to plan for the future goals of a child including college expenses.
Put your investing ideas into action with unlimited $0 online stock, ETF and option trades, with no annual account fees or balance minimums.Footnote 1 Options contract and other fees may apply.Footnote *
Available education accounts
Managed by Merrill

Merrill Guided Investing

Investment advisory programs
Learn More about Guided Investing

Merrill Guided Investing

An investment advisory program
Pursue your online investing goals with a professionally managed portfolio with a 0.45% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 2, 4
Available education accounts

Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor

An investment advisory program
Establish your investing online goals with the help of an advisor and get one-on-one guidance when you need it with a 0.85% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 3, 4
Available education accounts
Learn more about education accounts
Small business accounts are a great way to plan for the future goals of both owners and employees.
Put your investing ideas into action with unlimited $0 online stock, ETF and option trades, with no annual account fees or balance minimums.Footnote 1 Options contract and other fees may apply.Footnote *
Available small business accounts
Managed by Merrill

Merrill Guided Investing

Investment advisory programs
Learn More about Guided Investing

Merrill Guided Investing

An investment advisory program
Pursue your online investing goals with a professionally managed portfolio with a 0.45% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 2, 4
Available small business accounts

Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor

An investment advisory program
Establish your investing online goals with the help of an advisor and get one-on-one guidance when you need it with a 0.85% annual program fee calculated and assessed monthly based on your prior month's balance.Footnotes 3, 4
Available small business accounts
Learn more about small business accounts

Ready to get started?

Call us

Set up a meeting

Footnote 
Other fees may apply. Free and $0 means there is no commission charged for these trades. $0 option trades are subject to a $0.65 per-contract fee. Sales are subject to a transaction fee of between $0.01 and $0.03 per $1,000 of principal. There are costs associated with owning ETFs. To learn more about Merrill pricing, visit our Pricing page.
Footnote 
Other fees may apply. Sales of ETFs are subject to a transaction fee of between $0.01 and $0.03 per $1,000 of principal. There are costs associated with owning ETFs and mutual funds. To learn more about pricing, visit our Pricing page.
Footnote 
Merrill waives its commissions for all online stock, ETF and option trades placed in a Merrill Edge® Self-Directed brokerage account. Brokerage fees associated with, but not limited to, margin transactions, special stock registration/gifting, account transfer and processing and termination apply. $0 option trades are subject to a $0.65 per-contract fee. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Pricing is subject to change without advance notice.
Footnote 2 There is an annual program fee of 0.45% based on the assets held in the account. This fee is charged monthly in advance.

Footnote 3 There is an annual program fee of 0.85% based on the assets held in the account. This fee is charged monthly in advance.

Footnote asterisk 
Please review the applicable Merrill Guided Investing Program Brochure (PDF) or Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor Program Brochure (PDF) for information including the program fee, rebalancing, and the details of the investment advisory program. Your recommended investment strategy will be based solely on the information you provide to us for this specific investment goal and is separate from any other advisory program offered with us. If there are multiple owners on this account, the information you provide should reflect the views and circumstances of all owners on the account. If you are the fiduciary of this account for the benefit of the account owner or account holder (e.g., trustee for a trust or custodian for an UTMA), please keep in mind that these assets will be invested for the benefit of the account owner or account holder. Merrill Guided Investing is offered with and without an advisor. Merrill, Merrill Lynch, and/or Merrill Edge investment advisory programs are offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S") and Managed Account Advisors LLC ("MAA") an affiliate of MLPF&S. MLPF&S and MAA are registered investment advisers. Investment adviser registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
The Chief Investment Office (CIO) develops the investment strategies for Merrill Guided Investing and Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor, including providing its recommendations of ETFs, mutual funds and related asset allocations. Managed Account Advisors LLC (MAA), Merrill's affiliate, is the overlay portfolio manager responsible for implementing the Merrill Guided Investing strategies for client accounts, including facilitating the purchase & sale of ETFs and mutual funds in client accounts and updating account asset allocations when the CIO's recommendations change while also implementing any applicable individual client or firm restriction(s).

You may also be able to obtain the same or similar services or types of investments through other programs and services, both investment advisory and brokerage, offered by Merrill; these may be available at lower or higher fees than charged by the Program. The services that you receive by investing through Merrill Guided Investing or Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor will be different from the services you receive through other programs. You may also be able to obtain some or all of these types of services from other firms, and if they are available, the fees associated with them may be lower or higher than the fees we charge.
Footnote 
Merrill Guided Investing 6-Month Offer

Introductory 6-Month Program Fee Waiver Offer eligible for accounts that are newly enrolled into the Merrill Guided Investing program (MGI) starting on and after March 27, 2023.

How it Works:

  1. To be eligible for the Offer, you must input the Offer Code during the account opening step through the MGI website or you must instruct a Merrill representative to input the Offer Code for you. You are solely responsible for taking this action to be eligible for the Offer.
  2. Once your account with the Offer Code applied has enrolled into MGI, Merrill will waive MGI's annual asset-based fee of 0.45% (Program Fee) for the initial partial month, if applicable, and for 6 full months after the effective date your account's enrollment in MGI (Offer Period).
  3. This Offer is solely limited to Merrill's waiver of MGI's Program Fee. Your MGI-enrolled account will be subject to fees and expenses not covered by MGI's Program Fee during and after the Offer Period, including the internal fees and expenses of funds in your account, as described in the MGI ADV brochure. Please refer to the MGI ADV brochure section "Fees and Expenses Not Covered by the Program Fee" for a list of other fees and expenses that your MGI-enrolled account may be charged and that are not included in MGI's Program Fee.
  4. This Offer is only available to newly enrolled MGI-accounts, is not transferable to another account, and may not be combined with other offers relating to the account's advisory program fee. When the Offer Period expires, your MGI-enrolled account will be subject to MGI's annual asset-based Program Fee of 0.45% which is charged monthly in advance. If you unenroll your account from MGI before the Offer Period expires, you'll owe no Program Fee for the services provided while the account was enrolled in MGI. If you are eligible for MGI Program Fee discounts, rebates or credits under the Preferred Rewards Program offered by BANA, then those benefits will apply following the Offer Period's expiration. You may be eligible for other offers from Merrill and its affiliates. Please contact us for more information.
  5. Merrill reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions or terminate this Offer at any time without notice. Merrill also reserves the right to refuse a waiver or portion of a waiver for an MGI-enrolled account if it determines that the account obtained it under fraudulent circumstances, that you provided inaccurate or incomplete information in enrolling the account in MGI, or that you violated any terms of your MGI agreement. MGI Program enrollment requirements and guidelines apply.
Tax Disclaimer: The value of the waiver of MGI's Program Fee may constitute taxable income. Merrill may issue an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) to you that reflects the value of the waiver. Please consult your tax advisor. Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates and associates do not provide tax advice.
MAP6012065-05152025
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Investing in securities involves risks, and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.

Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary (PDF).

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as "MLPF&S" or "Merrill") makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member Securities Investor Protection (SIPC) popup and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp").
Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. (MLLA) is a licensed insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

Investment products offered through MLPF&S and insurance and annuity products offered through MLLA:
Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value
Are Not Deposits Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency Are Not a Condition to Any Banking Service or Activity


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