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E*TRADE vs Merrill Edge
Detailed comparison of fees, features and products
4.2
BROKER ONLY3.8
BROKER ONLYFeature Comparison
| Feature Comparison | E*TRADE | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Wide Offering | ||
| Fractional Shares & DRIP | ||
| Free Savings Plan | ||
| Cash Sweep Yield | ||
| US Support | ||
| Tax Documents (1099) | ||
| SIPC $500k + FDIC | ||
| Score | 6/7 | 7/7 |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Comparison | E*TRADE | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| IRA Accounts (Roth, Traditional) | $0 commission | $0 commission |
| Cash Sweep Yield | $0 commission | $0 commission |
| Crypto Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Margin Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
| Min. Deposit | 0 | 0 |
Product Range
| Product Range | E*TRADE | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | All US stocks | All US stocks |
| ETFs | All US ETFs | All US ETFs |
| Mutual Funds | 9,000+ mutual funds | 3,000+ mutual funds |
| Bonds | Full bond offering | Full offering |
| Crypto | N/A | N/A |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Morgan Stanley backing: Excellent for stock compensation (RSU/ESPP)
- Power E*TRADE: Excellent options & technical analysis
- SIPC $500k + FDIC sweep
- Great for tech employees with equity
- Solid research and education
- Managed portfolios available
Cons
- No direct crypto trading
- No fractional shares
- Higher options fees than Tastytrade
- Cash sweep yields lower than competitors
Pros
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards: Huge bonuses for BoA clients
- SIPC $500k + FDIC
- Excellent research (Morningstar, BofA Securities)
- Seamless BoA banking integration
- Free trades for Platinum Honors members
- MarketPro platform for active traders
Cons
- Best benefits require BoA relationship
- No crypto
- Limited if not a BoA customer
- Cash yields not competitive