Merrill Edge vs Vanguard
Merrill Edge is an affordable online broker with robust research options for small to mid-size investors. How does it compare to Vanguard? Read our comparison chart below.
Merrill Edge (a subsidiary of Bank of America) offers stock trades at $2.95 standard fee per trade and options trading at $0 + $0.75 per contract. BofA customers can get 30 free trades a month if balance requirements are met. There is no account minimum, no maintenance fee, and no inactivity fee.
While Vanguard offers low stock trade prices (starting at just $2) for investors with account balances over $500k. For those with smaller balances, it's best for less active traders, as trade prices go up after 25 trades/year. Vanguard offers 125+ no-transaction-fee mutual fees and 55+ commission-free ETFs. There is no minimum deposit and service fees can be waived by signing up for electronic statements.
Compare Merrill Edge with Vanguard, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.
Merrill Edge | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
Get $150 with New Merrill Edge Account - | ||
Benefits and Features | ||
| Stock Trading | Less than $50,000: $7 per trade for the first 25 trades per year, then $20. $50k - $500k: All trades $7. $500k - $1M: All trades $2. $1M - $5M: First 25 trades per year free, then $2. $5M+: First 100 trades per year free, then $2 | |
| Options Trading | Less than $500,000: $7 + $1 per contract. $500,000+: $2 + $1 per contract | |
| Minimum Deposit | ||
| Mutual Fund Trading | $0 for no load, no-transaction-fee funds ($39.95 short-term redemption fee if the fund is held less than 90 days) $19.95 for no load, transaction-fee funds | $0 for no-transaction-fee funds. For transaction-fee funds: $20 for account balances less than $500,000; $8 for account balances $500,000+ |
| Commission Free ETFs | Around 1,800 ETFs from about 100 other companies | |
| Broker Assisted Trades | ||
| Customer Service | ||
| Inactivity Fee | ||
| Maintenance Fee | $20/year. Waived if account owner signs up for e-delivery service OR have at least $10,000 in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds | |
| Banking | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Desktop App | ||
| Forex Trading | ||
| Futures Trading | ||
| Locations | More than 2,100 Bank of America locations | |
| Online Community | ||
| Seminars | ||
| Virtual Trading | ||
CreditDonkey® Reviews | ||
| Stock Trading |  |  |
| Options Trading | | |
| Mutual Fund Trading | | |
| Online Platform | | |
| Banking | | |
| Mobile App | | |
| Commissions and Fees | | |
| Ease of Use | | |
| Research | |  |
| Pros & Cons | Pros:
| Pros:
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| Bottom Line | Affordable online broker with robust research options for small to mid-size investors... | Good choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments... |
Merrill Edge: Pricing information from published websites as of 07/09/2020. Vanguard: Pricing information from published websites as of 09/15/2019. | ||
Which is Better: Merrill Edge or Vanguard?
Still need help deciding which investing is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing Merrill Edge or Ally Invest.
In short: Merrill Edge's stock trading, mobile app, and research are impressive. Vanguard's mutual fund trading and ease of use are impressive.
Articles on Merrill Edge
Merrill Edge
Articles on Vanguard
Vanguard Brokerage Review
Which Do You Think is Best?
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