Other fees may apply. Sales of ETFs 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 and mutual funds. To learn more about Merrill pricing, visit our Pricing page.
Footnote 1 Did you know that there are two ways to move assets from one IRA to another? The most common is a transfer. This is when you transfer assets from an IRA held at one financial institution to an IRA at another. You may directly transfer assets between investment firms as frequently as you wish. The second, less common approach is called An indirect rollover. Rollovers occur when you withdraw assets from an IRA and then "roll" those assets back into the same IRA or into another one within 60 days. IRS rules limit you to one rollover per client per twelve month period. For more information on rolling over your IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or SEP IRA, visit
Should I rollover my 401k page or call a Merrill rollover specialist at 888.637.3343.
Footnote 2 These options are available if you terminate employment and have a balance in your former employer's qualified retirement plan. Options to leave funds in plan or roll over to your new employer's plan may not be available in certain circumstances.
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 (particularly with reference to employer stock), and different types of protection from creditors and legal judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care. For more information visit Should I rollover my 401k page or call Merrill at 888.637.3343.
Footnote
Merrill Edge Self-Directed was ranked in NerdWallet's article "
Best Brokerage Accounts for Online Stock Trading popup," published January 31, 2025, and received an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, from
NerdWallet popup published October 28, 2024. NerdWallet evaluates brokers based on investment selection, trading platform, customer support, account fees, trading costs, mobile app and cash sweep rates. NerdWallet and the NerdWallet logo are trademarks owned by NerdWallet, Inc. and used with permission.
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.
Merrill Guided Investing received an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars in
Investopedia's Best Robo-Advisors 2025, April 30, 2025 popup. Rankings based on data collected April 5, 2025 to April 11, 2025. Investopedia's team of researchers and experts conducted an all-encompassing data collection and review process of 20 digital wealth management platforms across nine key categories, including Portfolio Management, Goal Planning, Portfolio Contents, Fees, User Experience, Account Services, Account Setup, Customer Service, and Security & Education. These categories were then broken down into 60 weighted criteria. Investopedia extracts critical data points that are weighted by their quantitative model.
Go to third-party website Learn more about the methodology at Investopedia popup. Reprinted with permission of Investopedia. Rankings and recognition from Investopedia 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.
Extel, formerly Institutional Investor Research, announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2024 based on surveys held throughout the year. Extel creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals. The 2024 Global Research Leaders ranking lists sell-side research providers by the combined total number of positions earned across Extel's 2024 research team surveys. Results of each survey are published separately throughout the year, beginning in March 2024 with the Japan Research Team and concluding in December 2024 with the Global Fixed Income Research Team. Rankings for each poll are determined strictly by using numerical scores. Extel takes the number of votes awarded to each firm in a sector and weight it in relation to the size of the institution responding and rating it awarded. Firms are designated runners-up when their scores fall within 35 percent of the third-place scores. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc ("BofAS") and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Rankings and recognition from Extel 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.
Footnote 7 Taxes will reduce the amount you receive.
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.
For broker-assisted trades through Merrill Edge, you will be charged a fee equal to the lower of $29.95 or 5.00% of the principal amount of the transaction. Further, there are indirect fees, such as annual management and other similar fees, that are charged by the manager or sponsor of an exchange-traded fund and of a closed-end fund, as disclosed in the product's prospectus.
Footnote
Offer valid for new individual Merrill IRAs or Cash Management Accounts (CMAs). Cash bonus offers, in the aggregate, are limited to one CMA and one IRA per accountholder. Eligible Merrill IRAs limited to Traditional, Roth and owner-only SEP IRA. The Merrill IRA or CMA may be a Merrill Edge Self-Directed account, Merrill Edge Advisory account, Merrill Guided Investing account or Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor account. You may be eligible for a different or better offer. Please contact us for more information.
Offer Limitations: This offer does not apply to business/corporate accounts, investment club accounts, partnership accounts and certain fiduciary accounts held with Merrill, or to any types of accounts (including IRAs or CMAs) held with other business units of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S). Merrill reserves the right to change or cancel this offer at any time, without notice. This offer may not be used as an inducement to sell any kind of insurance, including annuities.
How it Works:
- You must enroll during account opening by entering the offer code in the online application or by providing it when speaking with a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor at 888.637.3343 or at select Bank of America® financial centers. You are solely responsible for enrolling or asking to be enrolled in the offer.
- Fund your account with at least $20,000 in qualifying net new assets within 45 days of account opening. Assets transferred from other accounts at MLPF&S, Bank of America Private Bank, or 401(k) accounts administered by MLPF&S do not count towards qualifying net new assets.
- After 90 days of meeting the funding criteria described in Step 2, your cash reward will be determined by the qualifying net new assets in your account (irrespective of any losses or gains due to trading or market volatility) as follows:
| Qualifying Net New Asset Balance |
Cash Reward |
| Less than $20,000 |
$0 |
| $20,000 to $49,999 |
$100 |
| $50,000 to $99,999 |
$150 |
| $100,000 to $199,999 |
$250 |
| $200,000 or more |
$600 |
For purposes of this offer, qualifying net new assets are calculated by adding total incoming assets or transfers (including cash, securities and/or margin debit balance transfers) and subtracting assets withdrawn or transferred out of the account within the preceding 24 weeks.
- Your one-time cash reward will be deposited into your IRA or CMA within two weeks following the end of the 90 day period. If your account is enrolled in an investment advisory program, such as Merrill Edge Advisory Account, Merrill Guided Investing or Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor, any cash reward deposited into your account will be subject to the program fee and other terms of the investment advisory program.
Tax Disclaimer: The value of the reward you receive may constitute taxable income. Merrill may issue an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) to you that reflects the value of the reward. Please consult your tax advisor. Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates and associates do not provide tax advice.
You have choices about what to do with your 401(k) or other type of plan-sponsored accounts. Depending on your financial circumstances, needs, goals and employer plan terms, you may choose to roll over to an IRA or convert to a Roth IRA, roll over a 401(k) from a prior employer to a 401(k) at your new employer, take a distribution, or leave the account where it is (if applicable). Each choice may offer different investments and services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, tax treatment (particularly with reference to employer stock), and provide different protection from creditors and legal judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care. For more information visit our rollover page or call Merrill at 888.637.3343.
These options are available if you terminate employment and have a balance in your former employer's qualified retirement plan. Options to leave funds in plan or roll over to your new employer's plan may not be available in certain circumstances.
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