Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Empower Personal Dashboard vs Merrill Edge
Empower Personal Dashboard vs Merrill Edge: the differences
| Compare |  Empower Personal Dashboard |  Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0%Lower | 0.45% to 0.85% |
| Minimum investment | $0 | $0 to $1,000 |
| Account types | IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF, CashCovers more | ETF |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Merrill Edge scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Management fee is lower at Empower Personal Dashboard: 0% vs 0.45% to 0.85%.
- Account types: only Merrill Edge offers Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate.
- Portfolio types: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers Cash.
- Support channels: only Merrill Edge offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US savers who want a managed retirement account without a fee attached. The management fee is 0% and the minimum investment is $0, so the cost side is as light as it gets. It fits people who would rather set it and leave it than trade.
Merrill Edge
Merrill Edge is a US brokerage that suits investors who want commission-free stock and ETF dealing alongside a brokerage account. Stock trade fees of $0 and an account fee of $0 put it in the cheapest band we rate, though options and managed portfolios carry their own charges.
Score breakdown
| Area | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0 and minimum investment $0 sit at the free end of costs. | 9.3Stock trade fee of $0, account fee of $0 and no inactivity charge at $0, with options at $0.65 per contract. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.7 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 12 of 490 | 41 of 490 |
| Robo-advisors | 3 of 153 | 13 of 153 |
Side by side, item by item
| Portfolio types | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Cash | Yes | No |
| Account types | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
The bill, worked out
10,000 invested for a year
Empower Personal Dashboard
0
0% of 10,000
Merrill Edge
45 to 85
0.45% to 0.85% of 10,000
Empower Personal Dashboard comes out 45 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where these facts come from
Empower Personal Dashboard
- empower.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Merrill Edge
- merrilledge.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Empower Advisory Group, LLC | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1914 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre, EmailCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, OptionsCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Merrill Edge website, Merrill Edge MarketPro, Merrill mobile app |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0%lowest quarter | 0.45% to 0.85%above the median | 0.35% |
| Minimum investment | $0lowest quarter | $0 to $1,000lowest quarter | $100 |
Median across 67 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Management fee of 0% and an account fee of $0, so nothing leaves the balance each year.
- Minimum investment of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0, so a small first contribution is enough.
- Stock trades cost $0 across stocks, etfs and funds, with managed portfolios in ETF and cash styles.
Cons
- The account type is an IRA, so it is a retirement account rather than a general dealing account.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and funds, with no crypto, options or forex added on.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so there is no live chat for quick questions.
Merrill Edge
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, so the everyday cost of holding a brokerage account is minimal
- No inactivity charge at $0, unlike several rivals that bill dormant accounts
- Minimum deposit of $0 means an account can be opened and funded without a large starting balance
Cons
- Options cost $0.65 per contract, so the free stock dealing does not extend to derivatives
- Managed portfolios charge 0.45% to 0.85% in advisory fees, where commission-free dealing applies only to self-directed trading
- Account types are limited to retirement and joint and corporate forms, so it does not cover the wider account range some rivals offer
Who each suits
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US savers building a retirement account who want it run for them at no annual charge.
- People who prefer ETF and cash portfolios over picking their own shares.
- Long-term investors content with a conventional asset range.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the managed portfolios start at $500.
- Vivid Standard, which charges a management fee of 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Axos Invest, where managed portfolios start at $100.
Merrill Edge
Who it suits
- US investors who want commission-free stocks and ETFs plus a retirement account in one place
- Long term holders who would rather avoid an inactivity charge of $0 and the account fees some rivals levy
- Beginners and experienced traders who appreciate support across phone, chat and help centre
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who want forex or crypto, as the market list holds stocks, etfs and options
- Anyone looking for a fully managed portfolio without paying advisory fees of 0.45% to 0.85%
- Readers who want the wider market spread offered by CFI or eToro, where the asset mix runs wider than stocks, etfs and options
Current offers
Merrill Edge
Current offer
First period offer
$0 program fee for 6 months - Merrill Guided Investing: $0 for 6 months
New enrollments, use offer code 6FREE
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Empower Personal Dashboard | Merrill Edge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
The management fee is 0% and the account fee is $0, so nothing is taken out of the balance for holding or running the account. Trading is separate, and the stock trade fee is $0, which keeps running costs thin overall.
Is there a minimum to get started?+
The minimum investment is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so you can begin with a small amount rather than waiting for a large balance. That makes it a practical first step for anyone building a retirement pot gradually.
Merrill Edge
What does it cost to trade stocks at Merrill Edge?+
Online stock dealing is priced at a stock trade fee of $0, with an account fee of $0 on the brokerage account. The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed. Options trades are charged separately at $0.65 per contract.
Which regulator supervises Merrill Edge?+
Merrill Edge is supervised in the US, and the regulators recorded for it are FINRA and SEC. The legal entity behind the brand is Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated. Securities held in the account fall under the investor protection arrangement stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Ally Bank
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Betterment
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Wealthsimple
- Merrill Edge vs Firstrade
- Merrill Edge vs Markets.com
- Merrill Edge vs Webull
- Merrill Edge vs tastyfx
- Merrill Edge vs Composer
- Merrill Edge vs Global Prime
- Merrill Edge vs JPMorgan Chase
- Merrill Edge vs Fennel
- Merrill Edge vs TradeStation
- Merrill Edge vs BMO InvestorLine
- Merrill Edge vs Capital.com
- Merrill Edge vs Trading 212
- Merrill Edge vs FBS
- Merrill Edge vs Angel One
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs XTB
- Merrill Edge vs UNest
- Merrill Edge vs eToro
- Merrill Edge vs LANDE
- Merrill Edge vs bunq
- Merrill Edge vs Robinhood
- Merrill Edge vs S Broker
- Merrill Edge vs Traders Place
- Merrill Edge vs Revolut
- Merrill Edge vs Afranga
- Merrill Edge vs Kraken
- Merrill Edge vs Lightyear
- Merrill Edge vs Nectaro