What Does Merrill Lynch & Co. Mean? (2024)

What Is Merrill Lynch & Co.?

Merrill Lynch & Co. is the former name of a prominent Wall Street investment firm. Since its acquisition by Bank of America (BAC) in 2009, it has become known simply as “Merrill” and operates as a wealth management division of Bank of America.

Founded by Charles E. Merrill in 1914, Merrill Lynch & Co. has long been one of the American financial sector's iconic institutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Merrill Lynch & Co. is a long-established American financial firm.
  • It was acquired by Bank of America in 2009 in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
  • Prior to its acquisition by Bank of America, the company was a leading player in the subprime mortgage market, which collapsed in 2007.

Understanding Merrill Lynch & Co.

Today, Merrill Lynch & Co. is headquartered at 250 Vesey Street in Manhattan, New York. Part of Bank of America, the firm holds assets under management (AUM) of over $2.75 trillion and employs over 19,000 financial advisors.

While today it is focused on its wealth management business, Merrill Lynch & Co. is recognized for its investment banking activities. In June 1971, Merrill Lynch & Co. completed its initial public offering (IPO) and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

During the early 2000s, Merrill Lynch & Co. became a leader in the market for mortgage-backed collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) following its acquisition of the subprime lending firm First Franklin Financial in 2006.

Merrill Lynch & Co. gradually expanded its service offerings by acquiring and merging with various other firms. The company has been engaged in retail brokerage services, prime brokering, broker-dealer activities, and commodities trading, among others.

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch & Co.

The company became the subject of widespread concern during the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis. In November 2007, Merrill Lynch & Co. announced billions in losses related to its portfolio of subprime mortgages and related derivative products. Following the termination of its chief executive officer (CEO), the company began selling company assets in a bid to maintain its solvency amidst speculation that it was on the verge of collapse.

In September 2008, Bank of America proposed a takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co. with an offer value of over $40 billion. This takeover offer, which represented a premium of over 70% relative to the company’s then-depressed market price, was accepted shortly thereafter, and Bank of America ultimately acquired Merrill Lynch for a $50 billion all stock transaction.

Merrill Lynch Changes Due to Digitalization

According to Financial Planning, the company plans to cut payouts to its advisors that manage small account holders in 2021 in an effort to maintain stability. Advisors will not receive a payout for production credits generated in households under $250,000.

This change echoes a trend among the biggest brokerage firms, which are encouraging advisors to cater to larger clients and move smaller accounts to robo-advisors or self-directed platforms.

This action is a reflection of the digital transformation that has occurred in the fintech sector. A senior Merrill executive stated: “That [shift] really reflects where our business is today and where it is going.”

What Does Merrill Lynch & Co. Mean? (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Merrill Lynch? ›

What Is Merrill Lynch & Co.? Merrill Lynch & Co. is the former name of a prominent Wall Street investment firm. Since its acquisition by Bank of America (BAC) in 2009, it has become known simply as “Merrill” and operates as a wealth management division of Bank of America. Founded by Charles E.

Is Merrill Lynch a Good investment Co? ›

Merrill is a good company if you're looking for an established financial advisor to help create and implement a plan to meet your financial goals. Whether you're looking for guidance on investing or selling a business, Merrill can help with various levels of service and options for both in-person and online advising.

Why is it called Merrill Lynch? ›

Merrill & Co. for business at 7 Wall Street in New York City. A few months later, Merrill's friend, Edmund C. Lynch, joined him, and in 1915 the name was officially changed to Merrill, Lynch & Co.

What Bank is Merrill Lynch affiliated with? ›

Bank of America Corporation affiliates include all entities that utilize the Bank of America, Banc of America, Bank of America Private Bank, Balboa and Merrill Lynch brand names.

What is a Merrill Lynch money account? ›

The Merrill Cash Management Account ® (CMA account) lets you deposit funds in a number of convenient ways. You can deposit or withdraw money from your CMA account via Direct Deposit, by using Bank of America ATMs, through our telephone or online funds transfer service or through a FedWire® wire transfer.

What is the minimum deposit for Merrill Lynch? ›

Merrill Edge® Self-Directed clients should call 877.653. 4732. Please note: Availability is based on account type and may depend on other eligibility criteria. 1$1,000 minimum opening deposit.

How much do you need for Merrill Lynch? ›

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management is available to all level of investors, with no minimum account sizes for most types of advisory accounts in Merrill's Investment Advisory Program.

What is the average rate of return for Merrill Lynch? ›

The Merrill Lynch Edge Select Aggressive Portfolio is a Very High Risk portfolio and can be implemented with 12 ETFs. It's exposed for 84% on the Stock Market. In the last 30 Years, the Merrill Lynch Edge Select Aggressive Portfolio obtained a 8.34% compound annual return, with a 13.17% standard deviation.

Is Merrill Lynch still owned by Bank of America? ›

The acquisition was completed in January 2009 and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. was merged into Bank of America Corporation in October 2018, with certain Bank of America subsidiaries continuing to carry the Merrill Lynch name, including the broker-dealer Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith.

What was the Merrill Lynch scandal? ›

As 2007 slipped into 2008 and the mortgage mess steered the country into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Merrill Lynch's situation worsened. Within a year of the date that first loss was reported by O'Neal, the firm would go on to write off a total of some $42 billion in subprime mortgage bonds.

Is Bank of America dropping Merrill Lynch name? ›

Bank of America Corp. will drop Merrill Lynch from its investment-bank brand, while keeping the name Merrill for wealth management. The investment bank is to be called BofA Securities and the U.S. Trust name will be dropped from the private bank, Charlotte, North Carolina-based BofA said Monday in a statement.

Is Wells Fargo part of Merrill Lynch? ›

As expected, Wells Fargo & Co. and Bank of America Corp. completed major acquisitions before the ball dropped on 2008. Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America has closed on its $19.4 billion purchase of Merrill Lynch & Co.

Does Walmart use Merrill? ›

Yes. Just call the Merrill Lynch Customer Service Center at 888-968-4015 to find out how. When can I start saving in the Walmart 401(k) Plan?

How do I deposit money into my Merrill Lynch account? ›

MyMerrill Mobile Check Deposit
  1. Tap on the check deposit icon.
  2. Using your device's camera, take a picture of both. sides of the check.
  3. And remember to sign the back.
  4. Select your deposit to account & enter the. amount.
  5. Tap continue to verify the deposit, and lastly. finally, tap “make deposit” to process therequest.

How does Merrill Lynch make money? ›

How do Merrill Lynch financial advisors make money? Merrill Lynch financial advisors earn money from commissions on trades or from fees charged to clients for financial services, such as account maintenance fees and account transfer fees.

Who owns most of Bank of America? ›

Top 10 Owners of Bank of America Corp
StockholderStakeShares owned
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Investm...12.62%1,010,100,606
The Vanguard Group, Inc.7.22%577,869,501
BlackRock Fund Advisors3.88%310,548,439
SSgA Funds Management, Inc.3.72%297,870,751
6 more rows

What country owns Bank of America? ›

Bank of America, in full Bank of America Corporation, one of the largest banking and financial services brands and corporations in the United States. It was formed through NationsBank's acquisition of BankAmerica in 1998. Bank of America is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Is Merrill Lynch a Bank account? ›

Bank of America's suite of banking products and services. The CMA account is a securities account with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The account provides access to services and products offered by licensed banks, including checking and FDIC-insured deposits that are held at the banks.

Is Merrill Lynch a retirement account? ›

Merrill has the retirement solutions to help you achieve your goals.

Does Merrill Lynch have a credit card? ›

We provide credit cards to help you manage your spending, meet liquidity needs and help you reach financial goals. The MERRILL+® Visa Signature® credit card is designed for clients that want a premier credit card with specialized servicing, robust benefits and rich and flexible rewards.

Does Merrill Lynch charge a fee? ›

For money market funds available for purchase, you will not pay an upfront fee; however, money market funds have an annual asset-based administration fee that ranges from 0.00% – 0.50%, all or a portion of which is paid to Merrill. include a 0.40% service fee.

How long does it take to get money from Merrill Lynch? ›

The withdrawal process is usually executed within >3 days. Merrill Edge is a reliable broker, regulated by at least one top-tier regulator.

Are Merrill Lynch fees high? ›

Is Merrill Lynch Expensive? The highest fee charged by Merrill Lynch is 2% of the value of the assets under management for client accounts worth $5 million or higher. Every client negotiates a Fee Rate with their advisor, which is lower than the highest rates established by the firm.

Can you withdraw money from Merrill Lynch? ›

Unlike loans, withdrawals do not have to be paid back, but if you withdraw from your 401(k) account before age 59½, a 10% early withdrawal additional tax may apply, and you may jeopardize your financial security in retirement. It should be a last resort as a source of income.

What is the average account size for Merrill Lynch? ›

The average size of Merrill's new client households reached $1.7 million in the first quarter, up 25% from the same period a year ago, according to the firm, which is part of Bank of America's wealth management business.

What services does Merrill Lynch provide? ›

Helping to make your goals a reality
  • Personal banking.
  • Lending.
  • Investments.
  • Retirement & savings accounts.
  • Insurance.
  • Wealth planning.

What is a good monthly return on investment? ›

According to many financial investors, 7% is an excellent return rate for most, while 5% is enough to be considered a 'good' return. Still, an investor may make more or less than the average percentage since everything depends on the investment's circ*mstances.

What is a good 10 year return on investment? ›

Most investors would view an average annual rate of return of 10% or more as a good ROI for long-term investments in the stock market.

How much money can you make from stocks in a month? ›

A reward-to-risk ratio of 1.5 is fairly conservative and reflective of the opportunities that occur each day in the stock market. Making 5% to 15% or more per month is possible, but it isn't easy—even though the numbers can make it look that way.

What is Merrill Lynch now called? ›

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is Now Bank of America & BofA Securities.

Where do the rich store their wealth? ›

Where do millionaires keep their money? High net worth individuals put money into different classifications of financial and real assets, including stocks, mutual funds, retirement accounts and real estate. There were 24.5 million millionaires in the U.S. in 2022. And only 21% of them inherited money.

What is Bank of America now called? ›

Bank of America is still called Bank of America, and the company's full name is Bank of America Corporation. The modern Bank of America Corporation was formed when BankAmerica was acquired by Nations Bank in 1998, though parts of the company date back over 200 years.

Is Merrill Lynch secure? ›

Merrill is continually safeguarding you through the best security practices available today. In fact – our mobile apps are the most secure way for you to interact with your finances and communicate with your advisor team.

Is Merrill Lynch owned by Morgan Stanley? ›

Morgan Stanley is the largest wirehouse, a category of full service-wealth management firm that also includes Merrill Lynch, UBS, and Wells Fargo.

Does Merrill Lynch have their own funds? ›

Merrill Lynch offers a comprehensive range of mutual funds to suit every kind of investor and investment strategy. You have access to more than 5,400 funds from 270 fund families.

Is Merrill Lynch better than Morgan? ›

Merrill Lynch's brand is ranked #568 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of Merrill Lynch. Morgan Stanley's brand is ranked #199 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of Morgan Stanley.

Why did Bank of America change its name? ›

Bank of America changed its name in 1930. Formerly known as Bank of Italy, they had the vision to once be the owners of financial centers across the whole nation. The name change helped because by 1945 Bank of America became the largest bank in the world.

What Bank owns Wells Fargo? ›

Along with JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup, Wells Fargo is one of the "Big Four Banks" of the United States. It has 8,050 branches and 13,000 ATMs. It is one of the most valuable bank brands.
...
Wells Fargo.
Company logo since 2019
Wells Fargo's corporate headquarters complex in San Francisco, California
TypePublic
20 more rows

Is Fidelity A Merrill Lynch? ›

Fidelity also manages a variety of funds and specializes in retirement planning, but they're also known for its electronic trading platform and life insurance options. Although once its own entity, Merrill Lynch is now under the ownership of Bank of America (BoA).

What Bank merged with Wells Fargo? ›

On October 9, Citigroup ended its effort to block the sale of Wachovia to Wells Fargo, though it still threatened to sue both for $60 billion. The merger created a coast-to-coast super-bank with $1.4 trillion in assets and 48 million customers and expanded Wells Fargo's operations into nine Eastern and Southern states.

How long does a 401k withdrawal take Merrill Lynch? ›

Please allow five to seven business days for receiving a check. To pick up a check at a local branch, please consult a Merrill Distributions Representative to obtain the branch location code (wire call).

How to borrow money from 401k Merrill Lynch? ›

HOW DO I TAKE OUT A LOAN? A. Access your account on Benefits OnLine® at www.benefits.ml.com, and then choose 401(k) Plan > Loans. You'll see the amount of any loans available to you, the type(s) of loans available (general purpose or residential), the interest rate to be charged on the loan and any fees involved.

What products does Merrill Lynch sell? ›

Helping to make your goals a reality
  • Personal banking.
  • Lending.
  • Investments.
  • Retirement & savings accounts.
  • Insurance.
  • Wealth planning.

Can I withdraw money from stocks? ›

You can withdraw the money you have invested in stock markets anytime as no rules are preventing you from it. However, there are fee, commissions and costs that you have to consider. When stock markets fall, investors feel comfortable withdrawing money and holding cash.

Can you open an account with Merrill Lynch? ›

Opening an account is easy

Let's create your new Merrill Edge® Individual Cash Management Account®. Do you have an offer code? Please enter a valid offer code.

How do I withdraw money from my brokerage account? ›

In order to withdraw money from your brokerage account, you will have to visit the app or website of your brokerage firm and look for a 'withdraw funds' option. Upon clicking this, money will be credited to your bank account within a certain duration.

What is Merrill Lynch symbol? ›

IPB - Merrill Lynch & Company Stock Price - Barchart.com.

How does Merrill make money? ›

Stock loan program: Merrill Edge earns money by loaning the stocks in your account for short sales. It does not share that revenue with you.

Is Merrill Lynch a top company? ›

Merrill Lynch is one of the largest wealth management firms in the world, with thousands of advisors.

Was Bank of America forced to buy Merrill Lynch? ›

The entire transaction took place in the panic when Lehman Brothers was about to declare bankruptcy. Both Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner had pressured Bank of America to purchase Merrill Lynch.

Is Merrill a broker? ›

Like many brokers, Merrill Edge offers website trading and an active trader platform, called Merrill Edge MarketPro. The company's website is clean and intuitive and offers several screeners so you can quickly sort through stocks, mutual funds, ETFs and bonds.

What is Merrill Lynch slogan? ›

Merrill Lynch – “Be bullish.” Reflect values or focus. First Citizens Bank – “We value relationships.” Three.

Who is Merrill Lynch's biggest competitor? ›

Merrill Lynch competitors include South State Corporation, Goldman Sachs, UBS, The Vanguard Group and Morgan Stanley. Merrill Lynch ranks 1st in Overall Culture Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

Is Merrill Lynch mutual funds? ›

Merrill Lynch offers a comprehensive range of mutual fund investment options that include more than 5,400 funds from 270 mutual fund companies. This competitive offering is supported by proprietary analysis and professional advice to help investors select the most appropriate funds for their investment strategy.

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