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Online broker Merrill Edge likes to give bonuses to new and current customers. Find out how much you could get and whether you qualify.
Merrill Edge® Self-Directed sports low overall fees, strong research offerings, and fantastic customer support. It's a solid option for all investors, and especially attractive for Bank of America customers.
$0 for online stock and ETF trades
$0
How you earn it:
How you qualify: You must open a Merrill Edge® Self-Directed account. It must be an IRA or cash management account (CMA). Qualifying IRAs are limited to traditional, Roth, and owner-only SEPs.
The Merrill IRA or CMA may be one of the following:
Details: You can deposit or transfer cash, securities, and margin debit balances to earn this bonus. The more you deposit, the more you earn. Here's a breakdown:
Deposit amount | Cash bonus |
---|---|
$20,000 to $49,999 | $100 |
$50,000 to $99.999 | $150 |
$100,000 to $199,999 | $250 |
$200,000+ | $600 |
Offer expires: TBD
How you earn it: Sign up for Merrill Guided investing through the website and enter promo code 6FREE. Or, ask a Merrill representative to input the code for you.
How you qualify: You qualify if you're opening a new Merrill Guided Investing account. You can't combine this promo with other promos that apply to the robo-advisory program fee.
Details: Merrill Edge charges a monthly 0.45% fee to Merrill Guided Investing accounts. This bonus waives that fee for the first six months. You get your current month free. If you cancel during the free period, that's OK -- you still don't pay anything. FYI, you'll need $1,000 to open the robo-advisory account.
Offer expires: TBD
Online brokers frequently update promos, so check in every so often. We keep track of the latest Merrill Edge promotions here.
Both Merrill Edge promos are worth a look.
The Deposit Bonus may be worth it if you have at least $20,000 worth of assets to deposit or transfer. This offer is competitive, but other brokers may offer better promos to investors who deposit $1 million or more. Check out the best broker bonuses to see if any other brokers you like offer better deals.
Consider the Robo-Advisor Bonus if you're opening a robo-advisory account with Merrill for the first time. You'll get a discount. Definitely apply the bonus if you're just trying out the service. You'll save money, and if you decide to cancel before the six months are up, you won't pay any program fees.
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
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3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
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5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Merrill Edge deposits your cash bonus within two weeks following the end of the 90 days.
You can get the Deposit Bonus twice -- once by opening a new IRA and once by opening a new cash account. Deposits are counted separately.
You can get the Robo Advisor Bonus once, the first time you sign up.
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