Wealth management division of Bank of America, one of the world's leading wealth management providers.
Merrill Lynch has a great platform with lots of features. However, the fee structure can be confusing and small trades can be expensive relative to the investment amount. For larger portfolios it makes more sense. Customer service is decent but not outstanding. Worth considering if you trade frequently.
Pros: Powerful platform, lots of features
Cons: Fees confusing and expensive for small trades
I've been using Merrill Lynch for six months. It works for basic stock and ETF investing. The app is okay, execution is fine. Nothing has gone wrong but nothing has particularly impressed me either. Fees are middle of the road. If you're looking for something that just works, it's adequate.
Pros: Does the basics well
Cons: Nothing stands out, average in every way
I was generally happy with Merrill Lynch until I experienced platform slowdowns during high-volatility market events. Twice I couldn't execute trades when I needed to most. They offered no compensation. For calm market conditions it's fine, but I can't trust it when it matters most.
Pros: Good in normal conditions, nice interface
Cons: Platform unreliable during market volatility