To Us, It's the Relationship that Matters

While there are certainly similarities among the individuals we choose to work with, there are of course many more differences. We acknowledge those differences and use them as a foundation upon which to build a relationship with you that can help define and strengthen your wealth management strategies.

The development of a customized strategy must take into account the various aspects of your financial life—your goals, financial objectives, and the issues and people that are important to you. We spend considerable time and effort developing robust strategies designed to endure market fluctuations, while still addressing your performance expectations and risk tolerance. Our in-depth understanding of you allows us to build a strong relationship with you, which we believe is an important foundation for the advice and guidance we offer.

As your dedicated team of Merrill advisors, we work steadily to foster a strong, evolving relationship with you. Our disciplined and structured, process-driven approach is designed to help you preserve your wealth now and in the future.

A Wealth Management Process Designed to Strengthen Your Financial Life

We can also help you with important strategic milestones such as:

• Identifying, prioritizing and balancing your financial goals
• Regularly determining and defining the financial risks you face
• Delivering portfolio strategies designed to uncover more opportunities while helping to manage potential investment risks across asset classes
• Formally reviewing your progress and measuring your results against your objectives
• Making appropriate modifications in response to market shifts or changes in your circumstances

Clarity, Customization and Global Resources Help Define Your Strategy

As economic and financial market conditions change, so may your own financial situation. By blending strategies, we continually refine the wealth management approach that works best for you. We frequently turn to BofA Global Research, which identifies and evaluates fresh investment opportunities that can affect many aspects of your 
financial life.

In addition, we rely on the insight provided by the Investment Management & Guidance Group, whose rigorous due diligence of third-party money managers from around the world helps ensure that they meet Merrill's stringent standards. Once we have their recommendations, we track investment managers' performance to see that they align with your objectives, time frame, liquidity needs and risk tolerance.

One of the ways we can customize your wealth management strategy is by examining your goals and financial objectives from a variety of different perspectives. These include:

• Balance sheet review (net worth analysis)
• Access to credit and lending solutions through Bank of America, N.A.
• Estate planning services
• Tax-minimization strategies
• Correlation analysis and other risk minimizing efforts (standard deviation, alpha)
• Tracking progress by means of a sophisticated process of periodic portfolio reviews

*Any information presented in connection with BofA Global Research is general in nature and is not intended to provide personal investment advice. The information does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Investors should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. BofA Global Research does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.

*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.