Trading stocks

Put your investing and trading ideas into action

If you're looking for new investment opportunities and are willing to accept greater risk in exchange for greater potential returns, then investing in stocks may be right for you.
May be a good move for:
  • Building a balanced portfolioFootnote 1
  • Investing across sectors and regions
  • Generating income through dividends
  • Preserving liquidity
Call us
Or call us 24/7 at
866.460.1282

Stocks made simple

With thousands of stocks to choose from, Merrill 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 dividend growth and high yield, EPS and revenue growth, and large caps with low P/E ratios.

Simplify your search

Discover new investment opportunities with buy-rated stocks recommended by analysts at BofA Global Research.

Make more-informed decisions

View equity profiles and advanced charting at a glance. Access independent ratings and research reports from Morningstar, S&P Capital IQ and BofA Global Research.

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.

Identify new opportunities

Identify timely opportunities with help from Technical Insight™ by Recognia. Learn how market trends and a company's products drive stock prices with fundamental analysis from Trefis®.

Invest and trade with confidence

Benefit from Merrill's commitment to execution quality and smart-order routing. Take advantage of opportunities during extended-hours trading as well as pre- and post-market sessions.

More investment choices

Pricing and fees

Free
Unlimited $0 online stock and ETF trades with no trade or balance minimums.Footnote 3
Other fees may applyFootnote 2

Get started

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

Open an 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 account5

There are several ways to fund your new account:

Transfer Cash

Real-timeFootnote 5
Fund instantly from your eligible linked Bank of America® bank account or Merrill 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 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 6 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 research and analytic teamsFootnote 7.
Manage your portfolio:
Access your new Merrill investment account anytime, anywhere—online, on your mobile device and at thousands of Bank of America® ATMs.
Download the mobile app
Looking for investment advice and guidance?
Meet with a Financial Solutions Advisor at more than 2,000 select Bank of America financial centers.
Schedule an appointment
Or call us 24/7 at 866.460.1282
Footnote 
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. For more information on rolling over your IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or SEP IRA, visit our rollover page or call a Merrill rollover specialist at 888.637.3343.
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.

Important risk disclosures

Footnote 1 Asset allocation, diversification and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
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 4 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 7 Research provided by BofA Global Research.
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