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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

Find your preferred way to invest, whether you're interested in simple stock trades or advanced options and margin trading.

Get up to $600 when you invest in a new Merrill Edge® Self‑Directed account.

Select to View offer terms popup

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
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

5 out of 5 stars for trading platform

Merrill Edge Self-Directed received 5 out of 5 stars for trading platform from NerdWallet.
Footnote 
Merrill Edge Self-Directed received 5 out of 5 stars for trading platform, and an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, from Go to third-party website NerdWallet popup, announced January 3, 2023. NerdWallet evaluates brokers based on investment selection, customer support, account fees, account minimum, trading costs and more. NerdWallet and the NerdWallet logo are trademarks owned by NerdWallet, Inc. and used with permission. Go to third-party website Learn more about the methodology at NerdWallet popup. Rankings and recognition from NerdWallet are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement.

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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 
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.
Footnote 
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.
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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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