Merrill Lynch Advisors Top Barron's List

Published: February 2009

Merrill Lynch advisors have continued their tradition of unwavering commitment to their clients and the tradition of being recognized as the best in the industry. Merrill Lynch led the list of advisors on the Barron's Winner's Circle ranking of top 1,000 advisors, with nearly twice as many as the nearest competitors.

The results, which were published in the February 9 issue, placed Merrill Lynch first in both the greatest number of advisors in the top 1,000, with 239 selected for that honor, and the greatest number of advisors ranking number one in their state, with a total of 15. The rankings are based on client satisfaction and the quality of advice. Other important selection criteria are client assets with the firm and community involvement.

"This honor acknowledges once again how all of our advisors support our clients every day, and why their advice is especially crucial in times like these," said Dan Sontag, head of Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management. "We're proud of every advisor at Merrill Lynch who delivers for our clients, and we congratulate all those who were recognized."

The February 9 issue contains the complete list, "America's Top Advisors: State by State." To honor the winners, and to showcase the quality of advice provided by our advisors, as well as the power of our brand, Merrill Lynch placed a full-page congratulatory ad to the winners in the issue.

Barron's Winner's Circle is an independent research organization that recognizes advisors who represent the highest levels of ethical standards, professionalism and success. It works within the financial services industry to promote best practices, integrity and professionalism.