Merrill Lynch: A Smart Investment For Your Managed Portfolio

Merrill Lynch's Investment Advisory Program offers a managed portfolio service that provides access to high-conviction investment solutions. The program is tailored to meet individual financial goals and is supported by a team of dedicated advisors. The service is designed to help clients build a financial blueprint, offering advice and guidance along the way. The portfolio is actively monitored and rebalanced by professional investment teams to maintain investing discipline and balance risk and reward. While the service comes with relatively high fees, it provides access to prestigious Wall Street stalwarts and the expertise of a well-renowned wealth management firm.

Access to human advisors

Merrill Lynch's Investment Advisory Program offers investors the opportunity to work with a dedicated financial advisor to build, monitor, and rebalance their portfolio. This service provides access to human advisors who serve as your "financial architect", guiding you through the investment process and offering advice along the way.

The advisors work with you to assess your goals and resources, helping you weigh trade-offs and make informed decisions about your financial plan. They can assist in planning for large upcoming expenses or enrolling in tax-efficient management services to potentially mitigate the impact of taxes on your portfolio.

For those seeking a more premium service, Merrill Guided Investing offers access to financial advisors for a higher minimum balance and an increased annual fee. This service may appeal to those with existing accounts in Bank of America or Merrill, as it allows for convenient management of finances under one banner.

The advisors available through Merrill Guided Investing typically have at least five years of experience and hold the necessary licenses, such as Series 7 and Series 66. These advisors can provide personalized guidance regarding investing goals, retirement planning, and other financial matters.

While the basic "online" service does not include access to financial advisors, the "online with an advisor" service provides direct access to a Merrill investment advisor. This service allows investors to meet with an advisor to refine their investing goals, discuss their recommended portfolio, and adjust their asset allocation strategy.

Whether you choose the basic or premium service, Merrill Lynch provides the option to work with a human advisor to help you make informed decisions about your investments and maintain investing discipline by actively monitoring and rebalancing your portfolio.

Actively managed portfolios

The Chief Investment Office (CIO) at Merrill uses the latest market insights and research to build portfolios that aim to outperform passive index fund portfolios. The CIO model portfolios are managed by a team of professional, in-house portfolio managers who have direct access to the Due Diligence team's analysts' insights and updates about the investments.

The Investment Manager model portfolios are managed by third-party asset managers and are also subject to full CIO Due Diligence. While the underlying investments in these portfolios are not separately reviewed, the CIO Due Diligence assesses the manager's capability in selecting managers, managing the total portfolio, and meeting its investment objective.

Merrill Guided Investing's approach to portfolio management means that your investments are actively monitored and adjusted to help you maintain investing discipline and balance risk and reward.

Superior educational resources

Merrill Guided Investing is highly regarded for its strong educational offering. This includes white papers, calculators, and courses, as well as high-quality webinars, videos, and articles. The educational topics are categorized from beginner to advanced. Topics range from platform-specific to investment asset information and strategy. Investment topics include investment risk, tax-efficient investing, growth vs. value, socially responsible investing, and many others. The calculators for retirement, tax planning, and more can answer nearly all client questions.

The tools and calculators enable users to plan for most major financial decisions, including retirement, college planning, and basic personal finance scenarios. The personal retirement calculator is great for those nearing or already in retirement, while the personal finance calculators encompass cash flow and education planning tools.

The platform's planning tools are accessible on mobile, as is the Guided Investing dashboard. Robo-advisor users can track account details, strategy, activity, performance, and goal progress.

Discounts for Bank of America customers

Bank of America customers can benefit from a range of discounts and advantages when investing in a Merrill Lynch managed portfolio. Firstly, the Preferred Rewards Program offers benefits tailored to customers based on their banking and investment activities with Bank of America and Merrill. Customers can enjoy discounted annual management fees through this program. The amount of the discount depends on the three-month average balance maintained in their Bank of America and Merrill accounts. For instance, a 0.05% discount is offered for an average balance of $20,000 to $50,000, while a 0.15% discount is given for an average balance of $100,000 to $10 million.

Additionally, linking Bank of America and Merrill Edge investment accounts provides several benefits. Customers can easily transfer funds between eligible accounts, view account balances on both websites, and switch between the two sites without logging in again. This integration simplifies financial management and streamlines the process of meeting financial goals.

Furthermore, Bank of America customers can take advantage of Merrill Edge, which offers simple flat-rate pricing with no minimum balance or trade minimums. Merrill Edge also provides one-on-one guidance for those investing at least $20,000, giving customers access to a personalized action plan that aligns with their investment goals and risk tolerance.

Overall, the discounts and advantages offered to Bank of America customers who invest in a Merrill Lynch managed portfolio can make it a convenient and attractive option for those looking to grow their wealth.

High-quality investment solutions

Merrill Guided Investing is a powerful, feature-rich robo-advisor service that offers high-quality investment solutions. It is backed by the expertise of the firm's legendary wealth management arm, Merrill, which has a strong reputation as a storied wealth management firm. This means that users can benefit from the vast experience and prestige of a well-established Wall Street firm in managing their investments.

The investment portfolios offered by Merrill are designed and actively managed by the experts at Merrill, ensuring that your investments are handled by professionals with extensive knowledge and skills. The portfolios are constructed using strategic and tactical asset allocations, taking into account your specific goals, risk tolerance, financial situation, timeline, and expected returns, as well as current and predicted market conditions.

Merrill's investment solutions are also personalised to your goals. Working with a Merrill advisor, you can create a customised plan that aligns with your financial goals and priorities. This plan can be adjusted as your goals and circumstances change over time. Additionally, Merrill offers model portfolios that are managed by their Chief Investment Office (CIO) and leading industry investment managers. These model portfolios provide access to high-conviction investment solutions and are informed by the latest market insights and strategic asset allocation guidance.

Merrill's investment solutions are also transparent and ethically managed. The company does not use any proprietary funds to avoid conflicts of interest, demonstrating their commitment to transparency and ethical management. With Merrill, you can be confident that your investments are being handled with integrity and your best interests in mind.

Frequently asked questions