Are they running out of prospects with $1 million to invest?  Or, are they not building quality relationships through their lending platform?

They are merging with jones. jones brokers can sell merrill funds A shares. jones guys won’t know any diff. as long as the funds are on “preferred” list.

All kidding aside, I used to wonder why Merrill didn’y buy Jones and use it for low end accounts.  Kind of a shabby-chic boutique for the unsophisticated investor, while keeping the Merrill Lynch image of world class service for the high net worth investor.

[quote=Starka]All kidding aside, I used to wonder why Merrill didn'y buy Jones and use it for low end accounts.  Kind of a shabby-chic boutique for the unsophisticated investor, while keeping the Merrill Lynch image of world class service for the high net worth investor.[/quote]

I doubt they'd fit together. Filling a room with EJ and ML brokers would be like lumping in your closet suits from Sears and Brooks Brothers.

sears=ML?  

[quote=frumhere]sears=ML?   [/quote]

Yeah.  That must be it.

Not even a Jones broker, which obviously you are frumhere, could make that mistake! 

ML brokers outclass EJ brokers seven days a week.  Not even a debatable topic.

Local muni players in T shirts mixed with Bobby Jones wearing private club members…

Strip mall offices mixed with marble floored, walnut paneled class A office space.

Plymouths and Porsches 

you people are so insecure. it’s pathetic! im just waiting for the day you’re on top…2025? 2030? just think, when you are, you just might be able to afford a brooks brothers suit. as long as you’re not, im long sears. now i know why the stocks done so well.

Actually not a Jones broker. 

[quote=frumhere]Actually not a Jones broker.  [/quote]

Don't sweat it, some of us knew you were joking 

[quote=youcanhatemenow]you people are so insecure. it's pathetic! im just waiting for the day you're on top...2025? 2030? just think, when you are, you just might be able to afford a brooks brothers suit. as long as you're not, im long sears. now i know why the stocks done so well. [/quote]

Let me guess, a member of the EJ brain trust bragging about being "on top" of a JD Powers survey....

Let’s get back to Mother Merrill for a minute?  Are they running out of million dollar idiots who buy into their marble floors and walnut paneling?  If I were the client, I would take a guy (or gal) with a set of balls, a good head on their shoulders, and a set of scruples over that dog and pony show any day of the week. 

I heard Jim Cramer say that Merrill is the "every man broker."  Are you kidding me?!  Merrill is the place if you have 100k, if not, you get kicked to the curb. (just like all the majors do).

ML + EDJ  =  BMW + Hyundai  =  Tiffany's + Wal-Mart  

[quote=Soothsayer]Let's get back to Mother Merrill for a minute?  Are they running out of million dollar idiots who buy into their marble floors and walnut paneling?  If I were the client, I would take a guy (or gal) with a set of balls, a good head on their shoulders, and a set of scruples over that dog and pony show any day of the week.  [/quote]

Jealousy is just sooooo ugly...<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Hardly.  I’m not into engendering institutional loyalty with my clients.

[quote=Soothsayer]Hardly.  I'm not into engendering institutional loyalty with my clients.[/quote]

No one is, no matter how you misunderstand the broker culture at places like ML.  BTW, they're no jealous of your strip mall office, why are you fixated on their nice digs?