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Built for final-shortlist moments: select brokers, scan the trade-offs, then open the profile for deeper source notes.
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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 86 | 91 |
| Trust score | 93 | 100 |
| Cost score | 86 | 92 |
| Platform score | 82 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 80 | 89 |
| Best for | U.S. self-directed investors · Bank of America banking customers · Stock, ETF, mutual fund, bond and options investors | Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept… |
| Watch out | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | Registered with the SEC as broker-dealer and investment adviser; member FINRA and SIPC. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | Official Merrill/BofA sources reviewed did not disclose SEC/FINRA registration or CRD numbers in the captured evidence. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and Managed Account Advisors LLC (MAA). Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | No retail negative-balance protection disclosed; margin agreement warns clients can lose more funds than deposited and remain responsible for shortfall. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | Member SIPC; investment products are not FDIC insured or bank guaranteed and may lose value. Source | SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source |
| Restricted countries | Agreement effective only when accepted in the United States; no country restriction list disclosed. Source | Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | Self-Directed: no balance minimum; Guided Investing: $1,000 minimum; CMA: $20,000 minimum funding, not applicable to MESD/MGI/MGI with Advisor/MEAA. Source | $0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source |
| Spread from | Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source | Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source |
| Commission | Self-Directed online stock/ETF/options commission $0; options $0.65/contract; broker-assisted fee lower of $29.95 or 5.00% of principal. Source | stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source |
| Maximum leverage | No fixed maximum leverage ratio was disclosed; margin requirements vary by security/transaction and are subject to change. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | Returned deposit/ACH-related fees listed at $0 in Merrill Edge Self-Directed fee schedule; standard deposit fees not separately disclosed. Source | $0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source |
| Withdrawal fee | Wire $24.95; ATM transaction $0; full ACAT/account transfer $49.95; closeout $49.95 for BASIC/IRA/IRRA/ROTH/SEP/SIMPLE. Source | No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee was listed in the official Merrill Edge Self-Directed miscellaneous account/service fee schedule extracted, but the official source did not explicitly say 'no inactivity fee'. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, fixed income/bonds, options, brokered CDs, and cash sweep/cash management products. Source | Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source |
| Trading platforms | Merrill Edge online/web, Merrill Edge MarketPro, and Merrill mobile apps. Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Self-directed, guided/advisory, general investing, retirement, education and small business account options, including CMA/BIA/IRA/ROTH/SEP/SIMPLE/529 account types. Source | Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source |
| Deposit methods | Bank of America transfers, external financial institution transfers, mobile check deposit, direct deposit/EFT, and account/securities transfers. Source | ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | EFT, checks/check-writing, debit card, wire transfer and linked Bank of America/Merrill transfers. Source | Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | Public official sources reviewed did not disclose a standard withdrawal processing time for Merrill Edge Self-Directed withdrawals. Source | Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.