341 Merrill Advisors Recognized on the 2026 Barron's "Top 1,500 Financial Advisors" List. Published on March 20, 2026. Ranking based on data as of September 30, 2025.

Rhea-AI Summary

Merrill (NYSE: BAC) announced that 341 Merrill advisors were named to Barron's 2026 Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list, with 9 advisors ranked No. 1 in their state. Rankings reflect data as of September 30, 2025 and recognize advisor productivity, AUM, practice quality and regulatory records.

This recognition highlights Merrill's advisor talent and ongoing investment in training, platform and client solutions.

News Market Reaction – BAC

+1.60%

+1.60% Session close to close

In the Apr 9 session, BAC gained 1.60%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights broad third-party recognition of Merrill’s advisor base, with 341 advis...

Analysis

This announcement highlights broad third-party recognition of Merrill’s advisor base, with 341 advisors on Barron’s 2026 Top 1,500 list and 9 ranked No. 1 in their state. Additional placements on multiple Forbes and Financial Planning rankings reinforce the franchise’s advisory depth. In context with recent positive business updates, investors may watch how sustained accolades support client acquisition, retention, and overall wealth-management positioning within BAC.

Key Figures

Barron’s-ranked advisors: 341 advisors Barron’s list size: 1,500 advisors State #1 advisors: 9 advisors +5 more

8 metrics

Barron’s-ranked advisors 341 advisors Recognized on 2026 Barron’s Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list

Barron’s list size 1,500 advisors 2026 Barron’s Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list size

State #1 advisors 9 advisors Merrill advisors ranked No. 1 in their state by Barron’s

Forbes Best-in-State teams 1,844 teams 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams

Forbes Best-in-State advisors 4,837 advisors 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams

Top Women Wealth Advisors 23 advisors 2026 Forbes America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors list

Top Women Best-in-State 539 advisors 2026 Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State

Top 40 Brokers Under 40 24 advisors 2026 Financial Planning Top 40 Brokers Under 40

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: 2026-04-08 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
2026-04-08	Digital payments growth	Positive	+3.2%	CashPro App usage and payment value metrics highlighted strong treasury client engagement.
2026-04-08	Community initiative	Positive	+3.2%	“Golf with Us” program expansion supported brand and community outreach messaging.
2026-04-08	Earnings date set	Neutral	+3.2%	Announcement of timing for first-quarter 2026 results and investor call logistics.
2026-04-07	OCIO ranking	Positive	+0.4%	Named No. 1 global nonprofit OCIO provider with sizable OCIO assets under management.
2026-03-31	Card partnership	Positive	+3.2%	Launch of co-branded Royal ONE credit cards expanding travel and loyalty offerings.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent company-specific news, including product usage growth and partnership and ranking recognitions, has coincided with generally positive single-day price reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the past weeks, BAC has issued several positive business updates. On 2026-04-08, it highlighted strong CashPro App adoption and payment volumes, alongside a community-focused “Golf with Us” initiative and the upcoming Q1 2026 earnings date, all with a +3.18% price reaction. Earlier, recognition as the No. 1 nonprofit OCIO provider and a new Royal Caribbean credit card partnership also saw positive moves, underscoring support for franchise-strength headlines.

Key Terms

asset allocation, rebalancing, diversification, broker-dealer, +3 more

7 terms

asset allocation financial

"Asset allocation, rebalancing and diversification do not guarantee against risk"

Asset allocation is the plan for how an investor divides money among different types of investments — such as stocks, bonds, cash, and real estate — to pursue growth while controlling risk. It matters because the mix determines how much your portfolio can gain or lose in different market conditions; like choosing ingredients for a recipe, the right balance aims to match your financial goals, time horizon, and comfort with ups and downs.

View in glossary

rebalancing financial

"Asset allocation, rebalancing and diversification do not guarantee against risk"

Rebalancing is the regular process of adjusting the mix of investments to restore a target allocation, for example selling assets that have grown to be a larger share and buying those that have fallen behind. It matters to investors because it keeps the overall risk and return profile aligned with goals—like trimming an overgrown plant to preserve its shape—and can lock in gains and compel buying low and selling high without emotional timing.

View in glossary

diversification financial

"Asset allocation, rebalancing and diversification do not guarantee against risk"

Diversification is spreading money across different types of investments—such as stocks, bonds, sectors or regions—so that a setback in one holding does not wipe out the whole portfolio. It matters to investors because, like not putting all your eggs in one basket, it reduces the chance that a single bad outcome will cause large losses, smoothing returns and lowering overall risk without promising guaranteed gains.

View in glossary

broker-dealer regulatory

"MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser"

A broker-dealer is a licensed firm or individual that both executes trades on behalf of clients (acting as a broker) and buys or sells securities for its own account (acting as a dealer). Investors care because broker-dealers provide the plumbing of markets — they place orders, hold or move cash and securities, offer research or advice, and their stability and fees directly affect trade execution, costs, and the safety of client funds; think of them as a combined travel agent and taxi for your investments.

investment adviser regulatory

"registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC"

An investment adviser is a person or firm that professionally manages money and gives recommendations about buying, selling, or holding investments. Like a financial coach or guide, they have a legal duty to act in a client's best financial interest, so their advice, fees and potential conflicts can directly affect returns and risk — making their role important for investors who want informed, accountable help with portfolios.

fdic regulatory

"Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and wholly owned subsidiary"

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is a U.S. government agency that protects individual and business bank deposits by insuring accounts up to a set limit, acting like a safety net for savers if a bank fails. It matters to investors because FDIC insurance reduces the chance of sudden losses for depositors, supports confidence in the banking system, and can influence the perceived risk and stock value of banks and financial firms.

sipc regulatory

"MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC"

The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) is a nonprofit organization that helps customers recover cash and securities if a registered brokerage firm fails and assets are missing. Think of it like an insurance backstop for your brokerage account—it can replace missing holdings up to legal limits but does not protect against losses from market movements or bad investment choices.

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Barron's named 9 Merrill Advisors No. 1 in their state

Key Points:

• 341 Merrill advisors recognized on the 2026 Barron's Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list.
• Nine Merrill advisors ranked No. 1 in their state.

NEW YORK, April 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --Barron's recognized 341 Merrill Wealth Management and Merrill Private Wealth Advisors on its annual Top 1,500 Financial Advisors List (Published on March 20, 2026. Ranking based on data as of September 30, 2025). Merrill also had 9 advisors named No. 1 in the state. This high-level representation speaks directly to the quality of Merrill's talent and their dedication to serving client needs.

"This year's recognition underscores the depth and strength of our advisor community," said Kenneth Correa, Head of Business and Client Development at Merrill. "It reflects the passion our advisors bring to their clients every day and their commitment to exceptional advice and service. We're incredibly proud of this culture and congratulate our outstanding advisors on this well‑deserved recognition."

Barron's ranked the following Merrill advisors as #1 in their respective state.

• Jeff Erdmann, Greenwich, CT – #1
• Rod Westmoreland, Atlanta, GA – #1
• Martin Gregor, Indianapolis, IN – #1
• Curtis Eustis, New Orleans, LA – #1
• Kent Pearce, Towson, MD – #1
• David Briegs, Bridgewater, NJ – #1
• Michael Stevens, Albuquerque, NM – #1
• Matthew Monger, Tulsa, OK – #1
• Richard Migliore, Columbia, SC – #1

Full list: 2026 Top Advisor Rankings by State

The Barron's "Top Financial Advisors" ranking is an annual list that aims to shine a spotlight on the nation's top wealth managers^[1] and raise industry standards. The rankings are based on data provided by over 7,000 of the nation's most productive advisors. Factors included in the rankings: assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, and philanthropic work.  

For the full list and methodology, visit: Barron's Top Advisors Methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Question: What is the Barron's "Top 1,500 Financial Advisors" list?

Answer: Barron's publishes four individual advisor rankings and three team or firm rankings each year aiming to shine a spotlight on the nation's top financial advisors and teams. Historically this list has been called the Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors" list, as it expanded to 1,500 in 2026.

Question: What other lists have Merrill advisors appeared on this year?

Answer: Merrill advisors have appeared on the following lists so far in 2026:

• 4,837 advisors and 1,844 teams on the 2026 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" (Rankings published January 7, 2026, based on data as of March 31, 2025)^[2]
• 23 advisors on the 2026 Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" (Rankings published February 4, 2026, based on data as of June 30, 2025)^[3]
• 539 advisors on the 2026 Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" (Rankings published February 4, 2026, based on data as of June 30, 2025)^[4]
• 24 advisors on the 2026 Financial Planning "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" (Rankings published February 10, 2026, based on data as of September 30, 2025)^[5]

Question: How does Merrill support the continued development of its advisors?

Answer: Merrill invests heavily in ongoing advisor development through training programs, practice management resources, leadership development, and access to specialists. Advisors at every career stage can receive support to deepen expertise, evolve their practices, and help serving increasingly complex client needs.

Question: How does Merrill invest in the training and development of next‑generation advisors?

Answer: Merrill has a long‑standing commitment to developing the next generation of advisors through its Advisor Development Program. The program is designed to build strong foundational skills while preparing advisors to serve increasingly complex client needs.

Question: How does Merrill's solutions, platform and technology support its advisors?

Answer: Merrill provides clients, through their advisors, with an integrated platform that brings together planning, investment, banking, and lending capabilities. Through an open‑architecture investment approach and providing access to banking capabilities, advisors have access to a broad range of solutions. Merrill continues to invest in its platform and technology, including capabilities supporting alternative investments, to help advisors navigate complexity, scale their practices, and deliver personalized advice.

Bank of America

Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading 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 nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,600 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, 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 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact

Julia Ehrenfeld, Bank of America
Phone: 1.646.855.3267
julia.ehrenfeld@bofa.com

Footnotes

^[1] 2026 Barron's "Top Financial Advisors" list. Opinions are Barron's, who evaluated advisors with a minimum of seven years financial services experience and employed at their current firm for at least one year. Ranking spots determined by each state's population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated for the firm, quality of practice, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of advisor-provided data. Rankings do not reflect any one client's experience, endorse any advisor and do not guarantee future investment success. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Barron's is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

^[2] 2026 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK* Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and not an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the rankings study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

^[3] 2026 Forbes "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and should not be considered an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

^[4] 2026 Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management and Firm-generated revenue (investment performance is not a criterion). SHOOK's rankings are available for client evaluation only, are not indicative of future performance and do not represent any one client's experience and available for investor help in evaluating the right financial advisor and should not be considered an endorsement of the advisor. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Details available at the SHOOK Research website. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

^[5] 2026 Financial Planning's "Top 40 Brokers Under 40" list is compiled using data solicited from advisors' employers. Opinions provided by Financial Planning considered advisors under 40 years old who work at an employee brokerage firm. Primary ranking is based on trailing 12-month production for each advisor. Financial Planning is a national publication serving the wealth management industry and retail brokers working in the employee channel for wirehouses and regional broker-dealers. Financial Planning's rankings do not reflect all client experiences, endorse any advisor, indicate future performance or future success and are available for client evaluation only. Compensation was not received from anyone for the study. Financial Planning is a trademark of Arizent. All rights reserved.  

Important disclosures

Investment products

Are Not FDIC Insured

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

May Lose Value

Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Asset allocation, rebalancing and diversification do not guarantee against risk in broadly declining markets.

Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary.

This material does not take into account a client's particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs and is not intended as a recommendation, offer, or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning) and other services. There are important differences between brokerage and investment advisory services, including the type of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences, particularly when determining which service or services to select. For more information about these services and their differences, speak with your Merrill financial advisor.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as "MLPF&S" or "Merrill") makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., ("Bank of America") and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S" or "Merrill"), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

Insurance and annuity products are offered through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc., a licensed insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

Trust, fiduciary and investment management services, including assets managed by the Specialty Asset Management team, are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."), and its agents.

Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America, N.A.

U.S. Trust Company of Delaware is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

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

 

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

FAQ

How many Merrill advisors made Barron's 2026 Top 1,500 list and what does it mean for BAC shareholders?

Direct answer: 341 Merrill advisors were named to Barron's 2026 Top 1,500, signaling strong advisor performance and brand recognition for BAC. According to Bank of America, this reflects advisor productivity, assets under management and practice quality, which may support client retention and franchise strength.

Which Merrill advisors were ranked No. 1 in their state on Barron's 2026 list and when was the ranking data measured?

Direct answer: 9 Merrill advisors were ranked No. 1 in their respective states on the 2026 list. According to Bank of America, the rankings are based on data measured as of September 30, 2025, and published March 20, 2026.

What criteria did Barron's use to rank Merrill advisors on the 2026 Top 1,500 list (BAC)?

Direct answer: Barron's used factors including AUM, revenue produced, regulatory record, and quality of practice. According to Bank of America, Barron's also considered philanthropic work and advisor-provided data points when compiling rankings.

Does the Barron's recognition of 341 Merrill advisors include methodological restrictions investors should note for BAC?

Direct answer: The rankings reflect Barron's methodology and do not guarantee investment results. According to Bank of America, Barron's requires a minimum advisor experience and uses state population and wealth to allocate spots, so lists are evaluative rather than performance guarantees.

How does Merrill support advisor development after being named on Barron's 2026 Top 1,500 list (BAC)?

Direct answer: Merrill provides training, practice management resources and an Advisor Development Program to support advisors at all stages. According to Bank of America, these programs aim to deepen expertise, scale practices and integrate planning, investment, banking and lending capabilities.