About Merrill Lynch
<p>From its 1914 start under founder Charles E. Merrill, Merrill Lynch has grown into a large U.S. wealth management and advisory firm and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. The firm is headquartered in New York City and also has a major presence in Charlotte, part of the Carolinas banking hub.</p> <p>With about 30,000 employees, Merrill Lynch works with plan sponsors across the country as a <a href="/plan-advisors">plan advisor</a> on employer retirement plans. It reports 40,000 clients and $350.0B in assets under management (2024). Its retirement plan work centers on defined contribution plans, including plan design and participant advice.</p> <p>For sponsors that need formal fiduciary coverage, Merrill Lynch supports both 3(21) co-fiduciary and 3(38) investment manager arrangements. A key differentiator is the way its advisory teams plug into Bank of America resources, which can be helpful for employers that want retirement plan guidance aligned with broader banking and corporate finance relationships.</p> <ul> <li>3(21) fiduciary consulting</li> <li>3(38) investment management services</li> <li>Participant advice programs</li> <li>Retirement plan design support</li> </ul>
Website: https://www.merrilledge.com
Founded: 1914
Employees: 30000
Office Locations
- New York, NY (Headquarters)
- Charlotte, NC
Services Offered
- 3(21) Investment Advisor
- 3(38) Investment Manager
- Participant Investment Advice
- Plan Design Consulting
Client Statistics (2024)
- Total Clients: 40,000
- Total AUM: $350.0B
Plans Serviced (2025)
Largest plans where this firm is listed as a service provider (Schedule C) or IQPA (Schedule H) on the most recent filings (From Form 5500).
| Plan | Sponsor | Assets | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| RETIREMENT SECURITY PLAN | NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, VA | $11.5B | 56,128 |
| EMPIRE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN | EMPIRE SOUTHWEST LLC, AZ | $487M | 4,178 |
| EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (US) LLP RETIREMENT PLAN A | EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (US) LLP, DC | $438M | 694 |
| WINDSTREAM PENSION PLAN | WINDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC, AR | $433M | 1,298 |
| SANSUM SANTA BARBARA MEDICAL CLINIC, INC. PROFIT SHARING PLAN | SANSUM SANTA BARBARA MEDICAL CLINIC, INC., CA | $236M | 241 |
| 401(k) Retirement Plan | Healthcare Sponsor, DC | $221M | 1,234 |
| 401(k) Retirement Plan | Manufacturing Sponsor, MD | $170M | 1,333 |
| 401(k) Retirement Plan | Professional Services Sponsor, GA | $151M | 39 |
| 401(k) Retirement Plan | Technology Sponsor, PA | $140M | 820 |
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