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Bank of America Introduces Merrill Edge® Roadmap

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Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:00am EST

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http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130214005798/en

Simplified Experience Helps Mass Affluent Achieve Their Financial Goals
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Bank of America today introduced Merrill Edge® Roadmap1, a new way to help mass
affluent clients pursue their financial goals through personalized advice and
guidance from a licensed Merrill Edge Financial Solutions Advisor. Merrill Edge
Roadmap provides a simple way for clients to understand their current financial
situation, document their financial goals, and create an action plan to help
them pursue those goals. To ensure that clients stay on track, Merrill Edge
Roadmap includes a complimentary review of their progress at least twice a year.


"Mass affluent clients are focused on meeting their individual and family life
goals, such as having a comfortable retirement or sending their children to
college," said Alok Prasad, head of Merrill Edge. "Merrill Edge Roadmap looks at
their financial goals and provides specific steps that they can act on by
working with a Merrill Edge Financial Solutions Advisor." 

According to the fall 2012 Merrill Edge Report, three-quarters (73 percent) of
mass affluent Americans are concerned that their retirement assets won`t last
throughout their lifetime, and 67 percent are concerned they won`t be able to
afford the lifestyle they desire in retirement. The cost of college is also a
concern, with nearly three-in-five (58 percent) dipping into their own personal
savings to fund their children`s education. As a result, 76 percent of mass
affluent Americans are seeking some kind of guidance to help them manage
important financial tasks. 

The Merrill Edge Roadmap experience starts with a one-on-one conversation with a
licensed Merrill Edge Financial Solutions Advisor. The conversation focuses on
clearly laying out the client`s current financial situation - including savings,
income and expenses. This is followed by a detailed discussion of the goals for
the client and their families, which may include retirement, college savings,
emergency funds, saving for a large purchase, or accumulating wealth. From
there, a client receives a free financial assessment and action plan, including
specific investment recommendations tailored to their needs. Moving forward, a
client will receive reports detailing the progress they are making towards their
specific goals. They will also have the opportunity to meet with a Financial
Solutions Advisor every six months or as needed to review their advancement
toward their goals and make adjustments if necessary. 

"We understand that our clients have unique financial situations and personal
goals that evolve with time," said Prasad. "Merrill Edge Roadmap will help them
to identify and pursue these evolving goals throughout their lifetime - from
entering the workforce to preparing for retirement." 

Bank of America and Merrill Edge are committed to simplifying the financial
lives of the mass affluent. Clients can seamlessly manage all of their Bank of
America bank accounts and Merrill Edge investment accounts in one place. 

1Merrill Edge Roadmap is available with a Merrill Edge Advisory Center account. 

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving
individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations
with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial
and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched
convenience in the United States, serving approximately 53 million consumer and
small business relationships with approximately 5,500 retail banking offices and
approximately 16,300 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million
active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management
companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading
across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments,
institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers
industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners
through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The
company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of
America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial
Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Visit the Bank of America newsroom for more Bank of America news. 

www.bankofamerica.com

Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., and affiliated banks,
Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. 

Merrill Edge is available through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated (MLPF&S), and consists of the Merrill Edge Advisory Center
(investment guidance) and self-directed online investing. 

MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and wholly owned subsidiary of
Bank of America Corporation. 

Investment products:

 Are Not FDIC Insured      Are Not Bank Guaranteed      May Lose Value  


© 2013 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Reporters May Contact:
Don Vecchiarello, Bank of America, 1.980.387.4899
don.vecchiarello@bankofamerica.com

Copyright Business Wire 2013

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