Merrill Lynch offers you over 4,000 mutual funds from over 175 well-known fund families. We have funds that are right for virtually every investment objective and risk profile, including load and no-load funds seeking growth, income, income and growth, and tax-exempt income, among other objectives. Our Mutual Fund Finder can help you find the funds that match your investment goals.

The Automated Investment Program (AIPs) can help you achieve your long-term financial goals. You can invest in the funds of your choice at a fixed-dollar amount and the purchase frequency you select. The program allows you to take advantage of dollar cost averaging. As a result, you may lower your average cost per share and build a portfolio without trying to predict market cycles.*

Please read the prospectus which contains more information including sales charges, management fees, and other expenses. Always read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Prospectuses are available throughout the site. You can also contact our toll-free number, (877) ML-Direct (653-4732) to request that a prospectus be mailed to you, or stop into the nearest Merrill Lynch branch office to pick up one.

* No investment program is risk free and a systematic investment plan does not assure profits or protect against loss in declining markets. This program is recommended for long-term investing in mutual funds. Since AIPs involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuating prices, you should consider your financial ability to continue investing through periods of low price levels.

As a Merrill Lynch Direct client, you can purchase municipal & commercial bonds, certificates of deposit and government securities (Treasury bonds and agency bonds). Use our Bond and CD Finder to locate the bonds and CDs from Merrill Lynch’s inventory that meet your criteria; then place orders through a Merrill Lynch Direct Customer Services Associate. Because Merrill Lynch is one of the largest underwriters and distributors of these products, we can offer you a vast inventory from which to choose.

Visit our online IPO Center, available exclusively to Merrill Lynch clients, to review and indicate your interest in initial public offerings. Long recognized as a global leader in equity underwriting, Merrill Lynch is a market leader in IPOs.

Clients must have minimum equity in their Merrill Lynch Direct account of $100,000 to participate. Because of high demand for IPOs, not all requests can be filled.

As a Merrill Lynch Direct client, have access to BAS-ML Research. Merrill Lynch’s analysts provide insightful, objective and decisive research that is designed to enable clients to make informed investment decisions. Merrill Lynch has more than 800 analysts focusing on four main disciplines:

Equity Research analysts provide fundamental analysis on more than 3,100 companies domiciled in 50 countries. Merrill Lynch equity research also provides institutional and individual clients with industry-specific research and in-depth global research and analysis on more than 20 global industries.

The Economics and Foreign Exchange group offers in-depth analysis of critical global issues, providing clients with investment ideas, market forecasts, macro overviews, and foreign exchange investment strategies.

Fixed Income and Equity-Linked Research analysts conduct research and analysis on corporate credits, municipals, commodities, structured products, convertible securities and derivatives.

The Investment Strategy group offers broad sector investment strategies across asset classes, regions and disciplines.

Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, Merrill Lynch News & Views , to receive regular e-mail messages with BAS-ML "US 1" Stock List. The BAS-ML US 1 Stock List represents a collection of investment ideas selected by a committee of BAS-ML professionals, including fundamental equity research analysts, investment strategists and research managers. The list is chosen from a universe of U.S. stocks that BAS-ML has rated "Buy."

With Merrill Lynch Direct, you can view a comprehensive account summary that shows the portfolio value, cash balance, and securities held in all of your Merrill Lynch accounts. You can click a highlighted account number to view more detailed information for a particular account, such as portfolio holdings and valuations, realized and unrealized gains or losses and cost basis. You can even compare your asset allocation to model portfolios prepared by Merrill Lynch professionals for a variety of investing goals.

With Merrill Lynch Direct, you can open a Cash Management Account® (CMA® account) or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

The CMA account is a powerful financial management tool that allows you to manage a wide range of investments while giving you easy access to your assets. On a weekly basis, the CMA account automatically sweeps idle cash into a Money Market Deposit Account (MMDA), while letting you make purchases against the account through a Visa® debit card (Classic or Signature) or checks.

The CMA Visa Signature^SM card* offers the most extensive travel and rewards program of any Visa card available today. Points earned in the rewards program can be used on any airline, anytime, anywhere, with no blackout dates. In addition, points can be redeemed for valuable merchandise and other travel services. You can earn points every time you use your card to make a purchase.

You can also sign up for our convenient electronic bill payment service**, Web Bill Pay, to pay your bills online without stamps, envelopes, or trips to the post office.

Alternatively, you can use Merrill Lynch Direct to open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or Roth IRA. Furthermore, if you are retiring, changing jobs or separating from an employer for other reasons (such as a merger or buyout), you may be required-or wish-to distribute some or all of the assets in your employer-sponsored retirement plan. You can distribute them into a Merrill Lynch Individual Retirement Rollover Account (IRRA®) through Merrill Lynch Direct.

* Additional fee of $95.00 per year.
** Additional fee of $7.50 per month.

With Merrill Lynch Direct, you get the tools to make investment decisions that are right for you. Use our Stock, Fixed-Income, and Mutual Fund Scanners to search for securities that meet your criteria. Use our extensive research, news, and information resources to discover and analyze opportunities. Monitor your accounts with our integrated account summary and detailed online account information.