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Investing in ETFs

Diversify your portfolio without losing flexibility

Like mutual funds, ETFs hold a basket of stocks, bonds or other investments. Many ETFs also offer additional tax-efficiencyFootnote 2 advantages and greater investment transparency. ETFs trade on an exchange like stocks.
May be a good move for:
  • Building a balanced portfolioFootnote 1
  • Preserving liquidity
  • Potential for tax efficiencyFootnote 2
  • Index fund investingFootnote 3
Call us
Or call us 24/7 at
866.460.1282

Get up to

$600
when you open and fund a new Merrill Edge Self-Directed investment account or IRA.

ETFs made simple

With thousands of ETFs to choose from, Merrill Edge offers tools, research and guidance to help you find the investments that may be right for your portfolio.

Search your way

Take advantage of powerful screening tools. Search for Morningstar 5-star rated, socially responsible and dividend-generating ETFs.

Simplify your search

Consider simplifying your ETF search with Merrill Edge Select® ETFs—evaluated and categorized by Merrill Lynch investment professionals.

Make more-informed decisions

View ETF profiles at a glance. Compare performance with advanced charting, and access independent ratings and research from Morningstar.

The latest news and events

Stay informed with up-to-the-minute news from Dow Jones, FactSet financial data and analytics, PR Newswire and Business Wire. Even set up customized alerts.

Invest and trade with confidence

Take advantage of opportunities during extended-hours trading as well as pre- and post-market sessions. Uncover hidden concentrations in your portfolio with Portfolio X-Ray® by Morningstar.Footnote 4

More investment choices

Pricing and fees

Pay one flat rate for ETFs with an online brokerage account or IRA—regardless of your account balance or how often you trade.
$6.95
per unlimited
online ETF trade
No trade or balance minimums
Learn how to qualify for $0 trades.Footnote 6
Other fees may applyFootnote 5

Get started

It's as easy as 1-2-3
1

Open your account

Open your account online in minutes. Here's what you'll need:
  • Social Security number and date of birth
  • A valid mailing and email address
  • Employment information (including company name, address, and start date)
  • General financial information (such as annual income and household net worth)
  • Names and dates of birth for any beneficiaries
Open an account
Or call us 24/7 at 866.460.1282
2

Fund your accountFootnote 8

There are several ways to fund your new account:

Transfer Cash

Real-timeFootnote 7
Fund instantly from your eligible linked Bank of America® bank account or Merrill Edge investment account.
Up to 3 business days
Fund within a few days from an eligible linked account at another financial institution.

Wire transfer

Same day
Wire funds electronically from another financial institution.

Write a check

3 to 5 days
Fund your account by mailing a personal, cashier's or bank check.

Transfer accounts or securities

8 or more days
Transfer an existing brokerage account, IRA account or securities from another financial institution. You can also transfer securities instantly between your Merrill Edge accounts.

Roll over into an IRA

10 or more days
Consolidate your retirement assets by rolling over accounts held in former employers' 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plans into a Merrill Edge IRA.
A Rollover IRA isn't right for everyone. Consider all of your choices and learn if a Rollover IRA may be right for you.Footnote 9 For additional information, call 866.460.1282 to speak with a rollover specialist, 24/7.
3

Start investing

Create an investment strategy:
Build a balanced portfolio aligned to your investment goals in 3 easy steps.
Learn how
Start your search:
Find investments that may be right for you with our powerful screeners and independent research. Simplify your search using streamlined lists of stocks, ETFs and mutual funds evaluated by Merrill Lynch research and analytic teamsFootnote 10.
Manage your portfolio:
Access your new Merrill Edge investment account anytime, anywhere—online, on your mobile device and at thousands of Bank of America® ATMs.
Download the mobile app
Other ways to invest
Merrill
Guided InvestingFootnote 11
A professionally managed portfolio aligned to your goals that's built, monitored and rebalanced by Merrill investment professionals.Footnote 11
Learn more
Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor
All the benefits of Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor who will discuss your priorities and provide advice and guidance to help you pursue your goals
Learn more
Other fees may apply. 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 9 You have choices about what to do with your employer-sponsored retirement plan accounts. Depending on your financial circumstances, needs and goals, you may choose to roll over to an IRA or convert to a Roth IRA, roll over an employer-sponsored plan from your old job to your new employer, take a distribution, or leave the account where it is. Each choice may offer different investment options and services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, tax treatment, and different types of protection from creditors and legal judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care. Visit merrilledge.com/rollover or call a Merrill Edge® rollover specialist at 888.637.3343 for more information about your choices.
Footnote 
Please review the applicable Merrill Guided Investing Program Brochure (PDF) or Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor Program Brochure (PDF) for information including pricing, 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 custodian of this account for the benefit of another person, please keep in mind that these assets will be invested for the benefit of the other person. Merrill Guided Investing is offered with and without an advisor.

Merrill investment advisory programs are offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S"). MLPF&S and Managed Account Advisors LLC ("MAA") are registered investment advisors. Investment advisor registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Important risk disclosures

ETF fund share prices fluctuate with market and economic conditions. It's possible to lose money by investing in ETFs.
Footnote 1 Asset allocation, diversification and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Footnote 2 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.
Footnote 3 Please note that market indexes are unmanaged. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.
Footnote 4 The data and investment information in Portfolio X-Ray® is provided by Morningstar. Merrill Edge offers access to Portfolio X-Ray as a courtesy to its clients. It is for information purposes only, and Merrill Edge does not control or validate it. Morningstar's securities classifications may differ from those used by other sources, including Merrill Edge. Please note: If you have questions, refer to your statement, which is the official record of your account.
Footnote 
Eligibility: Commissions are only waived for online stock and ETF trades conducted via an individual or jointly owned self-directed personal CMA® or IRA account.

Merrill Edge waives its commission fee for:
  • 10 monthly online stock & ETF trades for Preferred Rewards Gold tier members
  • 30 monthly online stock & ETF trades for Preferred Rewards Platinum tier members
  • 100 monthly online stock & ETF trades for Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors tier members & Bank of America Private Bank clients
For details about commissions, transaction fees and any other fees that may apply, visit our Pricing page. Other restrictions may apply. Preferred Rewards for Wealth Management clients (formerly known as Banking Rewards for Wealth Management), other than Bank of America Private Bank clients, do not receive Merrill Edge® Self-Directed commissions waivers. Learn more about Preferred Rewards.
Footnote 7 Fees and expenses are subject to change. Please note that other fees and expenses may apply, including early withdrawal penalties and trustee transfer fees. For Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated's standard brokerage fees, please see the Miscellaneous Fees schedule. For Bank of America N.A.'s fees, see your Personal Schedule of Fees.
Footnote 
Certain banking and brokerage accounts may be ineligible for real-time money movement, including but not limited to transfers to/from bank IRAs (CD, Money Market), 529s, Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking™, Credit Cards and transfers from IRAs, Loans (HELOC, LOC, Mortgage) and accounts held in the military bank. Accounts eligible for real-time transfers will be displayed online in the to/from drop down menu on the transfer screen.
Footnote 10 Research provided by BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research.
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