Merrill Edge Review 2020

Merrill Edge is an online discount broker provided by Bank of America Merrill Lynch that serves over 2 million clients. Preferred Rewards Platinum clients receive up to 30 commission-free trades monthly when minimum balances of $25,000 are maintained in Merrill Edge self-directed or Bank of America deposit accounts. Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors clients who maintain balances over $100,000 receive up to 100 commission-free stock and ETF trades monthly.

Penny stock traders will be attracted to Merrill Edge’s flat-fee $6.95 commissions cost and no over-the-counter surcharge fees but a minimum $25,000 balance is required to trade penny stocks.

Customers who maintain balances of over $50,000 (or those who make at least 15 trades quarterly) receive access to Merrill Edge Pro, which provides real-time market analysis, streaming and interactive charting, and features watchlists and alerts.

Merrill Edge Spotlight

Merrill Edge Customers

Merrill Edge has industry leading customer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone and complements its phone support with live chat, email and in-branch support nationwide.

The sweet spot range of client net worth is between $100,000 and $250,000 though Merrill Edge serves customers with lower and higher investable amounts. It incentivizes clients to maintain $25,000 minimum balances which makes customers eligible to receive up to 30 commission-free trades monthly.

Merrill Edge targets casual investors who value good customer service and the ability to walk into a local branch to speak with a financial advisor. Customers can contact support representatives every hour of the day every day of the week. Financial Solutions Advisors are available to current and prospective clients by phone and in local branches nationwide.

Merrill Edge is best for:

• Casual investors
• Higher net worth investors
• Bank of America customers
• Fee-conscious investors
• Penny stock traders
• Investors who want access to live advisors

Merrill Edge Promo Deal

Merrill Edge offers cash bonuses for deposits from $20,000 to $200,000 and above.

• $100 bonus for deposits of $20,000+
• $150 bonus for deposits of $50,000+
• $250 bonus for deposits of $100,000+
• $600 bonus for deposits of $200,000+

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Merrill Edge Pros and Cons

Merrill Edge offers commission-free stock and ETF trading incentives to clients who maintain minimum balances, offers extensive research from its own teams and third-party research firms, provides an easily navigable platform and excellent customer support 7 days a week by phone. The major drawback is that account minimums are high and Merrill Edge still relies on less-favored Java technology for its active trader platform, Merrill Edge Market Pro.

Merrill Edge Securities

Merrill Edge supports trading in stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs. Futures traders may find Interactive Brokers to be a better solution.

• Stocks
• Options
• Bonds
• Mutual Funds
• ETFs

Merrill Edge Fees

Merrill Edge has competitive fees of $6.95 per stock trade and an additional $0.75 per contract for options trades. No account balance minimums are in place.

Merrill Edge Platform Features

Merrill Edge Account Types

Merrill Edge Summary

The average investor who thinks of brand name brokers and trading platforms will probably find Charles Schwab or Fidelity come to mind before Merrill Edge. But Merrill Edge competes about as well with Schwab as any discount broker. Low commissions, no minimum account balance requirements, 24/7 customer support, in-branch offices and extensive research are available to all clients.

Bank of America customers receive all those benefits plus the bonus of a limited number of commission-free trades when minimum account balance requirements are met.

Options traders and active traders looking for tools beyond what most casual investors need may be better served at thinkorswim and OptionsHouse.

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