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Portfolio Guidance

Explore these insights from Merrill's Chief Investment Office to help you build and manage your portfolio.

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Investing basics
Videos

TRANSLATION, PLEASE!®

Investing can seem like it has a language all its own. Translation, Please!® videos make investing easier to understand by translating commonly used terms and concepts into clear, relatable explanations — without the jargon.
Article

5 common investing traps — and what you can do to avoid them

These tips can help keep your decision-making aligned with your financial goals.
Article

QUIZ: WHAT'S YOUR TRUE RISK TOLERANCE?

Answering these questions can help you get a better handle on how you really feel about the market's ups and downs and what that might mean for your investing decisions.
Article

MUTUAL FUNDS OR ETFS: HOW DO I CHOOSE?

Both can play a valuable role in helping you pursue your financial goals. Consider these common investing scenarios to see whether one — or both — is right for you.
Video time: 05:44
Video

LONG-TERM INVESTING: CORE PRINCIPLES EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD KNOW

They can help you keep moving toward your goals, no matter what the markets are doing.
Article

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ETFS

Exchange-traded funds are versatile, flexible and generally have low internal expenses, but they're not for everyone. Find out if ETFs may be right for you.
Portfolio management
Article

ASSET ALLOCATION: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Answers to your key questions about this important strategy for reducing risk in your investment portfolio and staying on track to meet your goals.
Article

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BUILDING YOUR PORTFOLIO

Whether you're just starting out or already investing, this disciplined approach can help you design a personalized portfolio tailored to your specific financial goals.
Article

9 TAX TIPS THAT COULD SAVE YOU MONEY NOW

Consider these ideas that could potentially reduce your tax bill this year or moving forward.
Article

4 TAX TIPS TO CONSIDER EARLY IN YOUR CAREER

When you're building your career in your 20s and 30s, it's important to invest using tax-efficient strategies. Consider these tips for trimming your taxes.
Article

TAX-AWARE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES YOU SHOULD CONSIDER

Although taxes shouldn't necessarily drive your investment decisions, thoughtfully evaluating the asset classes you choose and the accounts you hold them in could potentially help you lower your tax bill.
Article

6 REASONS TO SELL AN INVESTMENT — AND 2 TO HOLD ON

Knowing when to sell is as important as knowing what to buy, but the choice can be an emotional one. These tips can help you time your decision.
Video time: 03:34
Video

HOW BONDS WORK — AND WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU

Generally considered the more boring, conservative part of an investor's portfolio, bonds typically don't get as much press as stocks do. And because they function differently from stocks...
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Get timely perspectives from Merrill experts on the markets and trends to watch to help you invest.
Market insights
Webcast time: 25:18
Webcast

Shifting gears: New drivers of potential market expansion

Concise, conversational, actionable. The 2026 Midyear Outlook webcast brings together expert panelists from the Chief Investment Office and BofA Global Research to share ideas that can help you prepare for potential opportunities and risks in the second half of 2026 and beyond.
Article

Midyear 2026: The pace of change accelerates

As powerful new forces pick up speed, the risks are real, but so are the potential investment opportunities. These ideas can help you stay ahead of the pack.
Video time: 02:18
Video

SMALL CAPS, BIG POTENTIAL

This often-underappreciated asset class is having a moment in today's markets. Watch the video for reasons to consider adding it to your portfolio.
Video time: 02:13
Video

WHAT DO FED RATE CUTS MEAN FOR THE BOND MARKET

As speculation builds that the Federal Reserve might resume rate cuts, bond investors especially should be aware of the ripple effects.
Video time: 02:37
Video

WHAT A DECLINING DOLLAR MEANS FOR INVESTORS

The recent devaluation of the dollar is recalibrating the market. Watch to learn what it means for your portfolio.
Video time: 07:18
Video

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE NEXT GREAT TECH WAVE

A probing conversation about one of the big forces poised to transform markets and the global economy, and the hurdles it could face ahead.
Video time: 11:31
Video

GEOPOLITICAL VOLATILITY: DEFENSE, ENERGY AND METALS

Why a focus on security — touching infrastructure, supply chains and critical minerals — sits at the center of today's fragmented global landscape, and what it means for long-term investors.
Navigating market volatility
Article

WHAT IS DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING AND HOW DOES IT WORK

This slow and steady investment approach could help you manage market volatility and get more value for your money.
Article

7 TIPS FOR DEALING WITH A PROLONGED MARKET DOWNTURN

Here's what you may want to do — and avoid doing — as you maneuver through an extended decline.
Article

What can you do when the markets get volatile?

These insights and suggestions from our Chief Investment Office (CIO) can help you navigate periodic ups and downs.
Video time: 02:00
Video

TRANSLATION, PLEASE!®: Market Correction

A market correction is a drop of at least 10% — but less than 20% — from a recent high. This video explains what a correction is, how it compares to a bear market, and why these short-term declines are a normal part of investing.

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Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

This information should not be construed as investment advice and is subject to change. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be either a specific offer by Bank of America, Merrill or any affiliate to sell or provide, or a specific invitation for a consumer to apply for, any particular retail financial product or service that may be available.

The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., ("Bank of America") and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S" or "Merrill"), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").
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.
Asset allocation, diversification and (auto-) rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Investments have varying degrees of risk. Some of the risks involved with equity securities include the possibility that the value of the stocks may fluctuate in response to events specific to the companies or markets, as well as economic, political or social events in the U.S. or abroad. Bonds are subject to interest rate, inflation and credit risks. Investments in foreign securities (including ADRs) involve special risks, including foreign currency risk and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks are magnified for investments made in emerging markets. Investments in a certain industry or sector may pose additional risk due to lack of diversification and sector concentration. There are special risks associated with an investment in commodities, including market price fluctuations, regulatory changes, interest rate changes, credit risk, economic changes and the impact of adverse political or financial factors.

Sustainable 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.

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Investment products offered through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and insurance and annuity products offered through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc.:
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

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.
The performance data contained herein represents past performance which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. For performance information current to the most recent month end, please contact us.

Net Asset Value (NAV) returns are based on the prior-day closing NAV value at 4 p.m. ET. NAV returns assume the reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions at NAV when paid.

Market price returns are based on the prior-day closing market price, which is the average of the midpoint bid-ask prices at 4 p.m. ET. Market price returns do not represent the returns an investor would receive if shares were traded at other times.

Returns include fees and applicable loads. Since Inception returns are provided for funds with less than 10 years of history and are as of the fund's inception date. 10 year returns are provided for funds with greater than 10 years of history.

Before investing consider carefully the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the fund, including management fees, other expenses and special risks. This and other information may be found in each fund's prospectus or summary prospectus, if available. Always read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Prospectuses can be obtained by contacting us.

Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds: Expense Ratio – Gross Expense Ratio is the total annual operating expense (before waivers or reimbursements) from the fund's most recent prospectus. You should also review the fund's detailed annual fund operating expenses which are provided in the fund's prospectus.

Closed End Funds: Expense Ratio – Gross Expense Ratio is the ratio of the fund's total annual operating expense (before waivers or reimbursements) to average net assets as of the date of the fund's most recent annual report. You should also review the fund's detailed annual operating expenses disclosed by the fund in its annual reports, semi-annual reports, and other public filings.

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 and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) (PDF).

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.
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 SIPC popup and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("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 ("BofA Corp.").

Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. ("MLLA") is a licensed insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

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