Merrill Edge Review: BofA's Broker Delivers on Value
Merrill Edge is Bank of America's self-directed brokerage, and it does something no other discount broker can: it plugs directly into a $3 trillion banking ecosystem. You get $0 stock and ETF trades, the same options pricing as Fidelity and Schwab, and — if you bank with BofA — a loyalty program that genuinely moves the needle on credit card rewards and advisory fees. This isn't the flashiest platform. It doesn't offer crypto, futures, or fractional shares. The mobile app feels like a banking app with investing attached. But what Merrill Edge does offer is substance: BofA Global Research, Morningstar ratings, a full roster of account types including small business retirement plans, and the ability to walk into any of 4,000+ Bank of America branches for in-person help. The real question is whether the BofA ecosystem adds enough value to justify picking Merrill over Fidelity or Schwab. For existing BofA customers hitting Preferred Rewards tiers, the answer is often yes. For everyone else, it's a closer call.