Look, let's be real for a second. Choosing a broker in 2026 feels like picking a favorite brand of bottled water—at a glance, they all seem to do the same thing. But when people ask "is merrill investing good," they usually aren't just asking if the app works or if the trades are free.
They’re asking if it’s worth moving their entire financial life into the Bank of America ecosystem.
Honestly, the answer is a massive "it depends." If you're a high-frequency day trader hunting for the latest obscure crypto coin or wanting to leverage 10x on futures, you’re going to hate it here. Merrill is a fortress, not a playground. It's built for the person who wants to see their checking account and their Roth IRA on the same screen without having to remember four different passwords.
The Bank of America "Cheat Code"
The absolute biggest reason anyone stays with Merrill is the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. This isn't just some "earn 1% back" marketing fluff. It’s arguably the most aggressive loyalty program in the banking world right now.
If you have $100,000 sitting in a Merrill Edge account, you suddenly become "Platinum Honors." That status ripples through your whole life. Your credit card rewards jump by 75%. You get a better rate on your mortgage. You stop paying ATM fees anywhere in the world. For a certain type of investor—the "boring but wealthy" type—this makes Merrill unbeatable. You aren't just getting an investment platform; you're getting a subsidy on your lifestyle.
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But if you only have $500 to your name? The perks vanish. Without that balance-tier synergy, Merrill is just another big bank brokerage with a slightly clunky interface.
Where Merrill Actually Wins (and Fails)
The Research is Top-Tier
Bank of America Merrill Lynch has one of the largest research arms on the planet. When you use Merrill Edge, you get the same BofA Global Research reports that the suits on Wall Street pay thousands for. This isn't just a summary of a ticker; it’s a deep dive into sector trends and macroeconomic shifts. If you actually read the reports before you buy, is merrill investing good? Yeah, it’s excellent.
The Platform is... Finicky
Now, for the bad news. The mobile app is solid, but the website? It feels a bit like 2018 in some corners. You’ll find yourself clicking through three menus just to find a tax document. They have a "pro" platform called MarketPro, which is a downloadable desktop tool for active traders, but it’s nowhere near as slick as Thinkorswim or Fidelity’s Active Trader Pro. It works, but it won’t make you feel like a cyberpunk hacker.
Asset Gaps
Merrill is conservative. Very conservative. As of 2026, you still can’t trade:
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- Cryptocurrency (Directly)
- Futures
- Forex
If you want to bet on the Yen or buy the latest meme coin, you’re out of luck. They stick to the "Big Four": Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, and Bonds. For most people saving for retirement, that’s plenty. For the "WallStreetBets" crowd, it’s a prison.
Guided Investing: The "Robo" with a Human Heart
A lot of people are looking at Merrill Guided Investing lately. It’s their version of a robo-advisor.
The fee is 0.45% per year. Is that high? Compared to Betterment or Wealthfront (who often charge 0.25%), yes, it is. However, Merrill does something different. Instead of just letting an algorithm rebalance your ETFs, they have actual humans from the Chief Investment Office overseeing the strategies.
It’s a hybrid. You get the automation of a robo, but the portfolios are designed by the same people managing billions for institutional clients. If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, that fee can even drop a bit, making it more competitive.
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The Weird Quirks Nobody Tells You
There’s a strange thing with Merrill and fractional shares. Most modern brokers let you buy $5 worth of Amazon. Merrill doesn't really do that for new purchases. You can reinvest dividends into fractional shares, which is great, but you can’t just start a position with a handful of dollars. This makes it a tough sell for students or people just starting out with small amounts of cash.
Also, be careful with the "transfer-out" fee. If you decide to leave and move your assets to another broker, they’ll hit you with a $49.95 full account transfer fee. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a parting gift that leaves a sour taste.
Who Should Actually Use It?
Basically, Merrill is for the "integrated" person.
If you already use Bank of America for your primary checking and you have more than $20,000 (the Gold tier entry point), the convenience factor is massive. Moving money between the bank and the brokerage is instantaneous. Literally, the second you sell a stock, the funds are usually available for your debit card. In a world where some brokers take three days to "settle" and "transfer" your own money, that’s a luxury.
Is Merrill Investing Good? The Final Verdict
Merrill is a "premium" experience for people who have already "made it" or are well on their way. It’s for the person who values stability, research, and banking perks over "cool" features like 24/7 crypto trading or a gamified UI.
Is it good for beginners? Only if you have a Bank of America account and want to keep things simple.
Is it good for pros? No. Go to Interactive Brokers.
Is it good for the average saver? Absolutely. Especially if you hit that $100k threshold.
Your Next Moves
- Check your balance: Log into your Bank of America app and see what your 3-month average balance is. If you're close to $20k, $50k, or $100k, moving your brokerage to Merrill is a no-brainer for the rewards.
- Compare the "Guided" fee: If you want a managed portfolio, check if your Preferred Rewards discount brings that 0.45% fee down to something closer to 0.30%.
- Try MarketPro: If you’re already a customer, don’t just use the web interface. Download the MarketPro desktop app to see if the faster execution tools change your mind about the "clunkiness."
- Audit your assets: Ensure you don't need futures or crypto before committing. If you do, keep a "fun money" account at a smaller broker and use Merrill for your "serious" long-term money.