Merrill Edge offers new research experience via launch of Fund Story

Merrill Edge today introduced Fund Story, which aims to offer a new research experience designed to help self-directed investors more easily evaluate mutual funds and ETFs, including holdings, costs and ratings.

The feature is set to provide investors with a greater understanding of their assets and ultimately assist them in making better investing decisions.

Fund Story allows Merrill Edge’s clients to access a comprehensive overview of what’s held in a fund, including underlying holdings; sector and global exposure; and historical performance. In addition, it enables them to evaluate fund ratings from third-party research providers, including risk ratings that allow clients to understand the level of risk associated with investing in a fund.

Clients can also gain a clear view of the costs of a fund, including fees associated with buying, selling and owning a fund. They are also able to understand how fees are assessed and how they impact returns – including a future value analysis which allows clients to see how fees impact returns over time.

Furthermore, clients can assess whether a fund aligns with their personal values with environment, social, governance (ESG) fund scores from MSCI, a leading provider of investment decision support tools.

In February last year, Merrill Edge introduced a functionality that streamlines and simplifies portfolio analysis and performance review. Merrill Edge’s portfolio story provides clients critical portfolio-monitoring data, education, and insights to help them make more informed investing decisions. The capability builds on Merrill Edge’s streamlined stock research experience, which launched in November 2017 and offers new stock research and analytic capabilities. Through Stock Story, clients have access to jargon-free explanations of the basics of stock research; insights into what may be driving a company’s bottom line and performance; and professional analysis of company stocks.