Merrill Edge Review
Excellent customer support and guidanceNice selection of trading platformsDiversified portfoliosBest in class research and educational content
Fees and commissions can be higher than other brokerages No forex or commodities trading
Merrill Edge provides their clients with a streamlined online investing experience and is committed to building strong relationships with their customers. The Merrill Edge investment brokerage was established in 2010 as an extension of Merrill Lynch, the household brand owned by Bank of America. The brokerage is headquartered in the United States but operates on an international basis and has head offices located all around the world. Merrill Edge is licensed and regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). With this regulation and the fact that Merrill Edge is owned by Bank of America, the brokerage provides safe, secure, and transparent investment services to their customers. The customers Merrill Edge serves are generally casual traders, customers of Bank of America, and people who value a high level of customer support. It’s evident that Merrill Edge is a trusted and reliable online trading brokerage, but are they the right broker for you? Let’s find out in the following review where we’ll discover the products and services Merrill Edge provides and how they compare with the competition.
Trading Platform
Merrill Edge provides their clients with an impressive selection of trading platforms, resources and tools. See the trading platforms they offer overviewed below.
Web Based Trading Platform
Merrill Edge features their very own proprietary web-based trading platform that was clearly designed for the beginner or casual trader in mind. The platform makes it easy to build an investment portfolio with step by step guidance, intuitive tools and insights that help clients become a confident investor. Users of this platform can monitor their portfolio with various statistics in a and simple comprehendible manner. Users can also conduct in depth research and insights into their investments with the platform award winning research tools.
Merrill Edge Market Pro
This is a powerful desktop based trading platform meant for more experience Merrill Edge traders and investors. This platform offers much more insight, capabilities and control than the web-based platform. Traders have access to real-time market analysis data, interactive charting, a fully customizable dashboard, and trading and account access. The platform is not as advanced as many others but offers much more functionality than their other platform.
Mobile Trading Platform
Merrill Edge provides their clients with a free downloadable mobile trading application for both iOS and Android devices. The app is available for download from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The app features a fully customizable dashboard, interactive charts, heat maps, account management capability, and trading capabilities. All in all, the mobile trading experience is very well designed and is great for busy traders on the go.
Exchange Markets
Traders with Merrill Edge can build a diversified portfolio as they offer an extensive range of investment choices for both beginner and experienced investors. The investment choices which are great for all types of investors include stocks, exchange traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and fixed income & bonds. More experienced traders can enjoy trading options and margin trading. For customers wanting a simplified investment experience, Merrill Edge curates investments for you with their BofAML US 1 List, Merrill Edge Select Funds, and Merrill Edge Select ETFs. Also, customers can benefit from fully managed portfolios at a low cost.
Fees and Commission
The fees and commissions imposed on traders are relatively high compared with other investment brokerages of this kind. However, Merrill Edge does provide an exceptional level of customer care and caters towards inexperienced and casual traders. Therefore, their higher fees are justifiable. Merrill Edge does not provide any free ETFs or mutual funds like many other brokers, but instead charges a commission of $6.95 per trade on ETFs and $19.95 for mutual funds. Stocks can be traded at $6.95 per trade and stock and ETFs get 30 free trades per month. Options can be traded at $6.95 per trade plus $0.75 per contract.
Security and Fairness
The Merrill Edge trading brokerage offers top of the line bank grade security to provide a safe and secure trading environment. The brokerage is highly regulated and employs the latest and greatest encryption, network, and account security technology available. Users can secure their accounts with two factor authentication techniques and their funds are protected through an investor compensation plan. All in all, Merrill Edge provides a safe, fair, and transparent trading and investing environment for their customers.
Support
Merrill Edge is an investment brokerage who is truly dedicated to helping their customers succeed and does this by helping them every step of the way. Support representatives are available 24/7 and can be contacted through email, live chat, telephone, or in person at one of their many branches. Investment advisors and guided investing is available for all and customers also have access to an extensive research and investor education center. Customers who invest with Merrill Edge will always be looked after and catered to as they value each and every customer.
Conclusion
Merrill Edge is an internationally recognized trading brokerage for beginner and casual investors who require a great deal of customer support and guidance in their investment decisions. The brokerage offers excellent customer support, a selection of intuitive trading platforms and various tradeable assets across the global markets. Merrill Edge is a highly secure and trusted investment brokerage and should be considered by anyone looking for a helpful and guiding brokerage to trade with.
Merrill Edge Q&A
The following are the common questions that customers inquired about Merrill Edge.
Is Merrill Edge regulated?
Yes, it is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Is Merrill Edge a scam?
No, Merrill Edge is a legit broker and it’s licensed in the US.
Where is Merrill Edge based?
Merrill Edge’s headquarters are based at the Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255.
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