Trade on Your Own - Take Control of Your Financial Life  Open an IRA

When you make your own investing decisions, you want your financial services firm to provide you with the tools, resources, knowledge and expertise to help you pursue your financial goals.

Pricing - Look for price breaks or other perks for transferring multiple brokerage accounts, and look for competitive trading commissions.

Research and Insights - You may need ready access to research, information, insights and expertise from your brokerage firm, and access to respected third-party sources too.

Tools and Resources - Look for easy-to-use planning and performance tools that can help you choose investments and manage your portfolio.

Investment Choices - Access to a wide array of investment choices is important, and helps you keep your portfolio diversified1 as your investment goals, appetite for risk and the markets change over time.

Need to know more?
Learn about exchange-traded funds (ETFs) »
Explore your investment account options.
Learn about investment products for every objective »
Two approaches to stock investing: Growth vs. Value
See how Merrill Edge can help you trade »

Convenience - Look for easy access to your accounts anytime, anywhere. That means online, via mobile devices, ATMs, and in-person from bank branches.

1Open Your Account

Opening a Merrill Edge account online is easy and requires just a few pieces of information:

  • Social Security number and date of birth
  • A valid email address
  • Employment information, including company name and start date
  • General financial information such as annual income and household net worth

Open an Account »

2Fund Your Account

The most common ways to fund your account include:

  • Transferring money from a bank checking or savings account
  • Transferring securities held in another brokerage account
  • Mailing in a check.
3Evaluate Your Needs

You know what's important to you. Once your account is open, you'll be able review your needs using the the Merrill Edge Financial Toolkit TM, and set your investing strategy.

Watch and Learn - Learn about trading tools and resources.
The Merrill Edge Solution
Access to Research
  • Merrill Edge provides the research, tools, and resources to help self-directed investors manage their finances and pursue their financial goals.
  • A range of investment choices to help you pursue financial goals.
Tools & Resources:
Open an Account »
More Ways to Learn Plan Act
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Merrill Edge® – Helping You Invest
You choose how to invest with Merrill Edge – on your
own, or with guidance by opening an account with the Merrill Edge Advisory Center. Merrill Edge offers:
World-Class Research
Tap the know-how of Merrill Lynch, including world-class BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research.
Easy Access
Special Pricing
Get special pricing based on the amount you have in
your Merrill Lynch investing and Bank of America banking accounts.
Want to learn more? Preview Merrill Edge »
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks. Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

1 Asset allocation, diversification and rebalancing do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. Rebalancing, can however, pose potential tax consequences.