Your life and priorities
At Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, we believe that understanding what matters most to you is critical to developing an investing strategy. Through a dedicated relationship between you and your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor or advisor team, we are able to design a comprehensive strategy around you.
Your total financial picture
You'll have a more complete view of your total financial picture with single login access between Bank of America banking and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management brokerage accounts.
A clear and more open way to work
We believe trust comes from transparency, which is why our advisors lay out everything you can expect from the beginning. So you’ll know what we’re doing, how you’re tracking toward your goals, and what you’re paying.
Power behind your goals
Drawing from award-winning1 research, your advisor will work with other investment professionals to provide you with strategies based on your unique needs.
BofA Global Research
BofA Global Research was named one of the top global research firms in 2020 by Institutional Investor magazine.1
Barron’s "Top 100 Women Financial Advisors"
In 2021, for the sixteenth year in a row, Merrill had the most advisors named to Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” list. We are proud to congratulate our 22 advisors recognized.2
Barron’s "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors"
We are pleased to announce that Merrill has the most advisors on Barron's 2021 "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors" list for the thirteenth consecutive year. We are proud of our 286 advisors for their accomplishments and for making the list.3
Financial Times 2020 "FT 400"
We are pleased to have the opportunity to congratulate 70 Merrill advisors who made the Financial Times 2020 "FT 400 Top Advisor" list. Merrill had the most advisors recognized.7
Financial Planning Magazine "Top 40 Advisors Under 40"
We're pleased to share that, in 2021, Merrill had the most advisors named to Financial Planning Magazine "Top 40 Advisors Under 40" list, with 19 advisors being recognized. This list highlights top advisors under age 40 from various firms.8
Forbes "Top Wealth Advisors"
We congratulate our advisors for making the 2020 Forbes "Top Wealth Advisors" list. This year, Merrill had 53 advisors recognized.9
Financial Times "Top 401 Retirement Advisers"
The Financial Times 2020 "Top 401 Retirement Advisers" list recognizes the top financial advisors who specialize in serving defined contribution retirement plans. Merrill has the most advisors overall for the fourth consecutive year with 45 advisors being recognized. 10
Working Mother Magazine "Top Wealth Advisor Moms"
Working Mother Magazine "Top Wealth Advisor Moms" list recognizes wealth advisors who are mothers with children living at home and under the age of 18. Congratulations to all of our advisors named to the 2020 list.11
Forbes "Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors"
In 2020, Forbes released their "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" list, focused on younger advisors who are the "next-generation" of wealth advisors. Merrill had 156 advisors on the list, the most advisors recognized among our competitors.12
Barron's "Top 100 Financial Advisors"
Congratulations to our advisors who made the 2021 list as one of Barron's "Top 100 Financial Advisors." We're proud of our advisors for achieving this honor.13
Barron's "Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams"
Congratulations to our teams named to Barron's "Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams" 2021 list. We are proud of those recognized.14
Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors"
We congratulate our advisors for making Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors" 2021 list. This year, Merrill had 224 advisors recognized.15
Barron's "Top 100 Private Wealth Advisory Teams"
We're pleased to announce that Merrill had 23 Private Wealth Management teams named to the 2021 list. We congratulate our teams recognized and appreciate all that they do for their clients.16
Largest number of financial advisors
who hold the Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®) designation, May 25, 20214
Fortune's "Change the World" list
In 2020, Fortune recognized Bank of America on its “Change the World” list for the company’s leadership, long-standing support of community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and the impact of the additional financing it channeled through that network as part of the Payment Protection Program (PPP).17
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management’s financial statement
has been recognized fifteen years in a row (2006-2020) with the “Seal of Excellence” from DALBAR, Inc.
Merrill’s brokerage statement
was ranked No. 1 in Corporate Insight’s Broker Monitor report for thirteen consecutive years (2007-2019)
Financial Times Professional Wealth Management
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management was named No. 1 in technology in North America in Financial Times Professional Wealth Management 2021 Wealth Tech Awards.5
Center for Financial Planning
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management had the most CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certificants of any firm in the industry6 (May 25, 2021)
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management retirement statements
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management defined contribution and total retirement statements take the #1 spots in their respective rankings in DALBAR’s “Trends and Best Practices in Investor Statements.”—May 25, 2021
The Power of the Right AdvisorTM
Your dedicated Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor team combines actionable planning and objective investment advice to help you achieve your goals while growing and preserving your wealth.
Digital Wealth Management Impact Innovation Award for Digital Client Engagement
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management received the 2021 Digital Wealth Management Impact Innovation award from Aite Group for Digital Client Engagement regarding their new Client Engagement Workstation.18
WealthManagement.com 2020 Industry Awards
Merrill was the winner in the Technology category for Digital Collaboration Tools and the Social Media Leadership category for the Socialize platform for advisors – WealthManagement.com 2020 Industry Awards.19
"Bank of America” is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and brokerage activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates”), including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc., and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., which are registered broker-dealers and Members of SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. BofA Securities, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA.
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. Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized.
1. Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2020 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. 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. For more information about this award, go to https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1qbhr3x612gz1/The-Research-Firm-That-Won-2020. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor 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.
2. The Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” list, June 18, 2021. The Barron’s “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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 of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
3. The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” list, March 12, 2021. The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. This is a list of the top advisors in each state, with the number of ranking spots determined by each state's population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors' practices, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of data provided by the advisors themselves. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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 of the advisor. Barron's is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
4. Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks “CIMA,” and “Certified Investment Management Analyst.” Use of CIMA, and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst signifies that the user has successfully completed The Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.
5. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management was named #1 in technology in North America from Financial Times Professional Wealth Management (FT PWM), June 26, 2021. Applicants are asked to highlight key achievements, changes or improvements in relation to how technology is transforming their business models and contributing to drive growth, support advisors, enhance brand and improve client experience. A judging panel composed of leading industry professionals nominated the best institutions in different categories. Rankings and recognition from FT PWM 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.
6. As of May 25, 2021. Source: Center for Financial Planning. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
7. The Financial Times “400 Top Financial Advisers” (FT 400) list is an independent listing produced annually by Ignites Research, a division of Money-Media, Inc., on behalf of the Financial Times, April 16, 2020. The FT 400 is based on data gathered from advisors, broker-dealer home offices, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflects each advisor’s status in six primary areas: assets under management (AUM), asset growth, compliance record, experience, credentials and online accessibility. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of this advisor’s future performance. Neither the brokerages nor the advisors pay a fee to the Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 400. Rankings and recognition from the Financial Times 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 of the advisor. All rights reserved. For more information: http://details-he.re/fTgbvQ
8. Financial Planning’s “Top 40 Advisors Under 40” list, January 25, 2021. The ranking for the “Top 40 Advisors Under 40” list is compiled using data solicited from the advisors’ employers. Advisors considered must be under 40 years old and work at an employee brokerage firm. Individual trailing 12- month production for each advisor was the primary ranking criteria. Financial Planning is a national publication serving the wealth management industry and retail brokers working in the employee channel for wirehouses and regional broker-dealers. Rankings and recognition from Financial Planning 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 of the advisor. Financial Planning is a trademark of Arizent. All rights reserved. For more information: http://details-he.re/ifjWk7
9. The Forbes “America's Top Wealth Advisors” list, August 25, 2020. Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLC. Data as of March 31, 2020. The Forbes “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Forbes 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 of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. For more information http://details-he.re/xJOmtV
10. The Financial Times “401 Top Retirement Advisers” list is an independent listing produced annually by the Financial Times, October 22, 2020. The FT 401 is based on data gathered from advisers, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflects each adviser’s status in six primary areas: DC plan assets under management, DC plan growth rate, specialization in DC plans, years of experience, advanced industry credentials, and compliance record. This honor is not indicative of the adviser’s future performance. Rankings and recognition from the Financial Times 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 of the adviser. Neither the advisers nor their parent firms pay a fee to the Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 401. All rights reserved. For more information: http://details-he.re/tKi36V
11. The Working Mother/SHOOK Research’s “Top Wealth Advisor Moms” list, October 20, 2020. Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLC. Data as of March 31, 2020. SHOOK Research considered women advisors with children living at home under 21 years of age. The ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews and surveys: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Working Mother/SHOOK Research 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 of the advisor. Neither SHOOK nor Working Mother receives compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. SHOOK Research is a trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. All rights reserved. For more information: http://details-he.re/c1EuD0
12. The Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list, July 22, 2020. Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLC. Data as of March 31, 2020. SHOOK considered advisors born in 1981 or later with a minimum of 4 years as an advisor. Advisors have: built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. The ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures: telephone and in-person interviews, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Forbes 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 of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. For more information: http://details-he.re/oRxT00
13. The Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” list, April 16, 2021. The Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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 of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
14. The Barron’s “Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams” list, April 16, 2021. The Barron’s “Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams” ranking evaluated advisors on a range of criteria, including institutional investment assets overseen by the advisor and his/her team, the revenue generated by those assets, the number of clients served, and the number of team members and their regulatory records. Also considered were the advanced professional designations and accomplishment represented on the team. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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 of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
15. The Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list, March 24, 2021. Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLC. Data as of September 30, 2020. The Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client impact, industry experience, review of best practices and compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Forbes 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 of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. For more information: http://details-he.re/NtSDE5
16. The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” list, April 16, 2021. The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” list is a ranking of wealth management teams that specialize in serving individuals and families. The teams are ranked on a variety of factors, including their size and shape, the regulatory records and credentials of their members and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. The Barron’s “Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. Quantitative and qualitative measures used to determine the advisor rankings include: client assets, return on assets, client satisfaction/retention, compliance records, and community involvement, among others. Barron’s does not receive compensation from advisors, participating firms and their affiliates, or the media in exchange for rankings. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s 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 of the advisor. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
17. Fortune magazine's "Change the World" list, 2020. The Change the World list recognizes companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. Fortune writers and editors evaluate and rank the companies by four factors: measurable social impact, business results, degree of innovation and corporate integration. For more information, visit https://fortune.com/change-the-world/2020/.
18. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management recognized for “Advisor Focused” in the category of Digital Client Engagement. A global panel of six external experts on digital wealth management selected winners based on the following criteria, which were considered when scoring each entry: level of innovation and competitive advantage; market needs assessment; impact on customer experience; impact on customer operational efficiency; level of new revenue opportunity for the organization; impact on customer retention/new customer attraction; level of scalability across customer base; and future roadmap. Rankings and recognition from Aite Group are no guarantee of future investment success, do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and should not be construed as an endorsement.
19. WealthManagement.com 2020 Industry Awards, September 2020. A panel of 15 judges made up of top names in the industry determined the WealthManagement.com 2020 Industry Awards Finalists. Winners were then selected based on quantitative measures of their initiatives—such as scope, scale, adoption and feature set—along with qualitative measures such as innovation, creativity and new methods of delivery. Learn more at https://informaconnect.com/wealthmanagementcom-industry-awards/past-industry-awards/ . Rankings and recognition from WealthManagement.com 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.