Merrill Edge Referral Program
Right now, Merrill Edge does not appear to advertise a public friend-referral program for its clients. New customers can still qualify for a Merrill cash bonus of up to
$600 when they open and fund an eligible new Merrill account with qualifying net new assets.
If you want to earn up to 20 stocks, each valued between $3 and $3,000, by referring someone to a U.S. brokerage firm, use
Webull's referral program instead.
Webull Promotion
Merrill Edge Promotion
Up to $600 cash bonus when you open a Merrill Edge account.
Merrill Lynch Promotion Details
This offer applies to new individual Merrill IRAs or Cash Management Accounts (CMAs). The Merrill IRA or CMA may be a Merrill Edge Self-Directed account, Merrill Edge Advisory account, Merrill Guided Investing account, or Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor account. Cash bonus offers are limited to one CMA and one IRA per accountholder. Only Traditional, Roth, and owner-only SEP IRAs are eligible.
You have
45 days to open and fund an account with at least
$20,000 in qualifying net new assets from outside Merrill and Bank of America, and you must maintain the qualifying balance for at least
90 days.
For this Merrill deal, qualifying net new assets include total incoming assets or transfers, including cash, securities, and margin debit balance transfers, minus assets withdrawn or transferred out of the account within the preceding
24 weeks. Assets transferred from other accounts at Merrill, Bank of America Private Bank, or 401(k) accounts administered by Merrill do not count toward qualifying net new assets.
Merrill cash bonus details:
- Put in $20,000 to $49,999 in qualifying net new assets to get $100;
- $50,000 to $99,999 to receive $150;
- $100,000 to $199,999 to receive $250;
- $200,000 or more to receive $600.
Assets transferred from Merrill-administered 401(k) plans do not count. The cash reward is deposited once into your IRA or CMA within
two weeks following the end of the
90-day period.
Merrill Edge Account Offerings
Merrill offers several ways to invest, including Merrill Edge Self-Directed, Merrill Guided Investing, Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor, and Merrill Edge Advisory Account.
Self Guided
The Self-Directed account gives you control over your investments, letting you make your own decisions. This choice is best for experienced investors or those who want to avoid advisory program fees. You’re in charge of all decisions and transactions and can use Merrill Edge’s online research, but you will not receive personalized investment advice from Merrill advisors.
There’s no annual account fee or minimum amount needed to open a Self-Directed account. However, transaction and service fees may apply. Online stock and ETF trades are free, and online option trades have no base commission but do have a
$0.65 per-contract fee. Load-waived mutual funds and no-load, no-transaction-fee funds have no online transaction fee, although a
$39.95 short-term redemption fee applies to no-load, no-transaction-fee funds held for less than
90 days. No-load transaction-fee funds cost
$19.95 per online transaction.
Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor
Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor offers a professionally managed portfolio plus access to a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor. The advisor can help review your goals and assist in determining the appropriate portfolio for your situation.
This approach comes at a price. Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor requires a
$20,000 minimum for growth-focused strategies or a
$50,000 minimum for income-focused strategies, and it carries a
0.85% annual program fee, charged monthly. Merrill Guided Investing without an advisor has a
$1,000 minimum for growth-focused strategies or a
$50,000 minimum for income-focused strategies, and it carries a
0.45% annual program fee.
You can choose the account type and investment approach that best fits your needs, experience, and desired level of guidance.
Merrill Edge Referral Bonus Summary
Merrill Guided Investing is intended for investors who want a professionally managed portfolio. The online version has a
0.45% annual program fee, while Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor has a
0.85% annual program fee and includes access to a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor. Other fees may apply, and investors can receive discounts on advisory program fees through BofA Rewards if they qualify. Merrill Edge Self-Directed remains the lower-cost choice for investors who want to manage their own trades and avoid advisory program fees.
Updated on 7/30/2026.
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