Sustainable and Impact Investing and/or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) managers may take into consideration factors beyond traditional financial information to select securities, which could result in relative investment performance deviating from other strategies or broad market benchmarks, depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. Further, ESG strategies may rely on certain values based criteria to eliminate exposures found in similar strategies or broad market benchmarks, which could also result in relative investment performance deviating.
There is no guarantee that investments applying ESG strategies will be successful, there are many factors to take into consideration when choosing an investment portfolio and ESG data is only one component to potentially consider.
Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program
Taking a personalized approach to investing, tailored to your goals and values
Your goals, aspirations and values are unique to you. And we believe your portfolio should reflect that. Your Merrill financial advisor can help you create a personalized approach that incorporates your preferences and values alongside strategies grounded in our investment guidance and the best thinking of the Firm. One way to put this kind of strategy in place is through the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program, if it meets your needs.
Working with a dedicated financial advisor, the program offers:
 | Fiduciary advice and guidance that is personalized for your financial situation, preferences and values |
 | Control over decisions about how you work with your advisor and who makes day-to-day investment decisions |
 | Access to a wide range of investment solutions, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, tax efficient strategies, alternative investments and annuities |
 | Investment strategies that are constructed and managed by Merrill investment professionals and other leading investment managers |
 | Ongoing monitoring and regular reviews of your investment advisory account |
If you work with a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor, you will be able to access certain managed investment strategies under the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program.
Personalizing your investments
There are a lot of considerations when it comes to your investments. What do you want to achieve with your wealth? How much risk are you willing to take? How long can you invest before needing the money?
But it doesn’t stop there. If you choose to enroll in the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program, you can also personalize your investments with the ability to:
- Customize the investments in your portfolio to align with your unique situation and needs, from the simple to the complex
- Elect to enroll in tax efficient management services that may help you potentially mitigate the impact of taxes in your portfolio
- Avoid certain companies or industries, based on your preferences or beliefs
- Align your investments with your personal preferences helping you create environmental or social impact while pursuing your investment goals
- Gain clarity with a holistic view of your wealth, delivered as part of regular performance reports and through an interactive video account overview
See how personalization can work for you
Meet Kate & Ryan…
Managing taxes in their portfolio
Kate and Ryan worked with their advisor to build a personalized portfolio that will help them grow their wealth for the long term.
For each eligible investment, their advisor helped them put in place investment strategies that focus on managing taxes efficiently to potentially maximize the after-tax value of their investments. They were also able to develop a plan to help them fund their children’s education.
Meet Daniel…
Personalizing his investments
Daniel has accumulated a large position of shares at the software company he works for. He worked with his advisor to customize his holdings to avoid additional exposure to software companies and build a diversified retirement portfolio. He was also able to set up distinct investment approaches to help fund the purchase of a vacation home and charitable giving in the future.
Meet Michelle & Ron…
Creating impact with their wealth
Michelle and Ron are busy executives who are always on the move. They want to create an impact with the wealth they have accumulated, so they worked with their advisor to craft an approach that allows them to invest aggressively while also selecting strategies with a specific environmental and social impact. And with Merrill digital tools, they are able to easily monitor their progress and the impact of their investments, wherever they are.
It all starts with a conversation
You can choose from a range of ways to invest based on your individual objectives, investment style, need for ongoing advice and interest in particular solutions. Refer to the Client Relationship Summary to learn more about the different ways you can work with a Merrill financial advisor to pursue your goals.
To evaluate your options and determine if the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program may be right for you, schedule a discussion with your financial advisor.
Explore our other solutions
Whether you’re defining goals, addressing change or figuring out how to move forward, Merrill and Bank of America offer a wide range of solutions to help you take the next step and stay on track.
Related solutions
Related solutions
- Summary of programs and services
- Wealth Overview Fact Sheet
- IAP Brochure
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