Self-Direct Brokerage sdb Direct Advantage sdb Advisor Advantage Your employer is pleased to offer the Self-Direct Brokerage (sdb) service. An sdb account gives you more flexibility in managing your retirement assets by providing a wide range of investment options in addition to your plan s core investment menu. There are two types of sdb accounts available to you. An sdb Direct Advantage account is a self-service, participant-directed online account. An sdb Advisor Advantage account is a full-service account supported by a Merrill Lynch financial advisor. Both accounts are described in this brochure. What is Self-Direct Brokerage? As a 401(k) plan participant, you have the opportunity to invest a portion of your retirement plan account balance into a wider variety of investments than is available through your plan s core investment menu. With a Self-Direct Brokerage account, you benefit from: Greater investment choice Access to a comprehensive range of investment selections, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cash equivalents and more. Ease of access Online access to your sdb account virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Flexibility Transfer funds between your plan s core investment menu and your sdb account as often as you like (subject to transaction settlement periods). What is Self-Direct Brokerage? 1 Working with Merrill Lynch 2 Self-Direct Brokerage accounts 3 How Self-Direct Brokerage works 4 Trading in your account 5 Managing your account 6 Is Self-Direct Brokerage right for you? 7 Merrill Lynch makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation (BofA Corp.). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value
Working with Merrill Lynch When you enroll in Self-Direct Brokerage, you ll enjoy all the advantages of working with one of the world s leading financial services companies. These include online access to financial tools and research, the ability to establish up to 10 separate sdb accounts (or as permitted by your plan) and automated mutual fund investing. Merrill Lynch provides convenient access to investing information including research and news from BofA Merrill Lynch (BofAML) Global Research, 1 Standard & Poor s and Morningstar. In addition, our Automated Investment Program can help simplify investing in an sdb account. You can invest a fixed dollar amount in the mutual funds of your choice at the frequency you select. 2 We make it easy to keep track of your sdb account whether you have one account or 10 with monthly brokerage activity statements and quarterly retirement account statements, sent to you directly and available on Benefits OnLine. Even after you retire or change employers, you can continue to enjoy the advantages of working with Merrill Lynch with a rollover to a Merrill Lynch IRA. You have choices for what to do with your 401(k) or other type of plan-sponsored accounts. Depending on your financial circumstances, needs and goals, you may choose to roll over to an IRA or convert to a Roth IRA, roll over a 401(k) from a prior employer to a 401(k) at your new employer, take a distribution, or leave the account where it is. Each choice may offer different investment options and services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, tax treatment, and provide different protection from creditors and legal judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care. Getting started is easy sdb Direct Advantage You can open an sdb Direct Advantage account online at www.benefits.ml.com. By enrolling online, you can begin trading immediately, once you have funded the account. Or you can speak to a participant service representative at 1.866.218.INFO (4636) for assistance with the online application. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 7 p.m. Eastern. sdb Advisor Advantage To open an sdb Advisor Advantage account, please call 1.866.218.INFO (4636) or contact your Merrill Lynch financial advisor. 1 BofAML Global Research is research produced by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and/or one or more of its non-u.s. affiliates. MLPF&S is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. 2 The Automated Investment Program cannot be established with an initial mutual fund purchase. To participate in this program, you must already have a balance in the applicable mutual fund(s). 2
Self-Direct Brokerage accounts An sdb account offers: Stocks listed on the New York, NASDAQ and American stock exchanges and certain over-the-counter issues. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Standard & Poor s Depositary Receipts (SPDRs) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are also available. Fixed-income securities, including U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds; agency securities; corporate bonds and certificates of deposit. Nearly 1,700 mutual funds available at NAV through the Mutual Fund Alliance. Almost 500 mutual funds available, for a transaction fee, through the Mutual Fund Supermarket (available through Direct Advantage only). Please note that transaction fees will be assessed for these funds on buy and sell transactions. (Transaction minimums apply.) Separately managed account programs (available through Advisor Advantage only) that can help you diversify assets across investment types/styles. 3 Transaction fees for Supermarket mutual funds Most of the mutual funds available through Self-Direct Brokerage are offered on a load-waived or no-load basis. This means that these funds are sold at net asset value, without an additional transaction fee. However, certain funds, known through Self-Direct Brokerage as Supermarket funds, are subject to a fee of $49.95 if purchased or sold online or $74.95 if purchased or sold through a participant service representative. On the Benefits OnLine website, these funds will be labeled with an icon to indicate that a fee applies. You can also call the Retirement & Benefits Contact Center and speak to a representative for this information. Other applicable fees and expenses are described in each fund s prospectus. Please review this information before you invest. Your plan offers two types of Self-Direct Brokerage accounts, so you can establish the account that s right for you. sdb Direct Advantage The sdb Direct Advantage account allows participants to buy, sell and manage a variety of investments online, including eligible stocks, bonds and mutual funds, in addition to the plan s core investment menu choices. It is designed for confident investors who are interested in creating and managing their own investment strategies and accounts. You can: Begin funding your account the same day you open it, subject to applicable transaction settlement periods. Simply liquidate any eligible assets, as needed, in your core plan account and transfer the proceeds into your sdb account. You may begin trading the next business day after cash has been moved into the account. Direct future contributions into your account. Roll over your eligible assets in-kind to a Merrill Lynch IRA if you retire or separate from service with your employer. Note that in-kind, in-service withdrawals are not available. Establish up to 10 separate sdb accounts, or as permitted by your plan. Access research and news from BofA Merrill Lynch (BofAML) Research, Standard & Poor s and Morningstar. Receive monthly brokerage activity statements and quarterly retirement account statements. sdb Advisor Advantage The sdb Advisor Advantage account is serviced and supported by a Merrill Lynch financial advisor, who will provide general financial information and process individual trading requests. A financial advisor can: Provide general information about investments you may be considering for your sdb account. Place trades for you in your sdb account. Assist you with investments outside the plan and coordinate them with your current plan portfolio. Your financial advisor is not permitted by law to provide you with recommendations or advice on your sdb account. However, when you enroll in sdb Advisor Advantage, managed account solutions or the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program, typically available to Merrill Lynch brokerage accounts, may be available if your plan allows. 4 To learn more about these services, please contact the financial advisor who services your account. 3 These solutions may be available for use with the sdb account within the legal guidelines. Certain conditions, including minimum balances and/or specific investment restrictions, may apply. 4 Certain conditions, including minimum balances, may apply. 3
How Self-Direct Brokerage works Transferring funds Self-Direct Brokerage differs from a typical brokerage account because it is funded only through your employer-sponsored retirement plan. You can transfer money from your plan s core investment menu to your sdb account and/or direct new contributions to the sdb account. As soon as you open an sdb account and receive an account number, you can fund the account (subject to applicable transaction settlement periods) by transferring money from your core retirement plan account into your sdb account. 5 Cash transferred to your sdb account that is not invested after one trading day will be swept automatically into the sweep investment available in your sdb account. Typically, you will need to sell investments held in your core account, such as shares of a mutual fund. Once the trades settle, you will need to transfer the money to your sdb account. To make a transfer, visit www.benefits.ml.com or call a participant service representative. You may transfer funds between your plan s core investment options and your sdb account as often as you like (subject to applicable transaction settlement periods). Exchanges to and from the core investment menu and sdb accounts will result in the assets transferred being out of the market (not invested) for a one-day period. You cannot make direct deposits or transfer assets from other brokerage accounts directly into an investment within your sdb account. However, you can direct future plan contributions into your sdb account. BUY 6 Retirement Plan Account Transfer money Transfer money Self-Direct Brokerage Account SELL 6 5 The sweep investment within your sdb account will automatically receive daily deposits of any available cash that is not applied toward the payment of pending securities transactions, or other charges. 6 Transaction and other fees may apply. 4
Trading in your account To process orders to purchase securities, the account must contain sufficient funds to pay for all open orders. Any order executed without sufficient funds will be subject to cancellation or liquidation. You are responsible for all orders, including any orders that exceed available funds. When you place an order to buy or sell shares of a mutual fund, the trade will take place at the Net Asset Value (NAV), which is determined at the end of each trading day. You are not guaranteed a specific execution price. How taxes apply to your account If assets held in your sdb account increase in value, and you then sell the assets, proceeds of the sale cannot be treated as capital gains for tax purposes. If included in a plan distribution, the proceeds will be treated as ordinary income in the year the payment is received. On the other hand, all assets in your account remain tax-deferred until distribution (a 10% additional federal tax may apply to distributions you receive before age 59½). 7 Loans and withdrawals Although you can t take a loan or withdrawal directly from your sdb account, assets in your sdb account will be used to calculate any loan or withdrawal eligibility according to the rules of your plan. If you wish to fund a loan or withdrawal using your sdb assets, you can either: Transfer existing cash from your sdb account into your choice of your plan s core investments Sell securities in your sdb account and transfer the proceeds of the sale to buy your choice of your plan s core investments Some core investments may be affected by market fluctuations and may lose value before your loan is processed, so you may need to transfer additional cash from your sdb account or sell additional securities to cover the full loan amount. Settlement periods may apply to sales within your sdb account and transfers between your sdb account and core investments. Please consider the advantages and disadvantages of taking a loan before doing so. Dividends Dividends will be reinvested according to your instructions. 8 However, you cannot elect to receive dividends by check. Invest wisely There is no substitute for wise planning when making investment decisions. Understand the securities you are trading, and know what your goals are for each investment. Most of all, understand your own risk tolerance and the risks involved with each of your investments. Visit Benefits OnLine at www.benefits.ml.com for a risk assessment and investment guide that can help you determine your tolerance for investment risk, as well as other materials and resources to help you make your decisions. Total distributions You may take a total distribution only if you retire or leave your employer. For cash distributions, all securities would need to be sold prior to the total distribution. For in-kind distributions, all eligible securities can be transferred in-kind to a Merrill Lynch IRA or Cash Management Account (CMA ) (any non-eligible securities would need to be sold prior to the total distribution). Note that in-kind, in-service distributions are not available. All proceeds of the total distribution can be directed to a participant s home address on file, Merrill Lynch IRA or Merrill Lynch CMA. 7 Any information presented about tax considerations affecting client financial transactions or arrangements is not intended as tax advice and should not be relied upon for the purpose of avoiding any tax penalties. Neither Merrill Lynch nor its financial advisors provide tax, accounting or legal advice. Clients should review any planned financial transactions or arrangements that may have tax, accounting or legal implications with their personal professional advisors. 8 Dividend reinvestment instructions can only be made on mutual funds, and only at the time of initial purchase. 5
Managing your account You can access your Self-Direct Brokerage account information on Benefits OnLine at www.benefits.ml.com virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week or by contacting a participant service representative, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. 7 p.m. Eastern at 1.866.218.INFO (4636). Statements and confirmations You ll receive a monthly brokerage activity statement and a quarterly retirement account statement. After completing a trade, a transaction confirmation will be mailed to your address on record. If you place a trade online, you will have the option of receiving your confirmation electronically or by regular mail. Recordkeeping fees, other fees and commissions All account holders are generally assessed an annual recordkeeping fee. The total fee will be deducted from the balance invested in the sweep investment within your sdb account. 9 The sdb annual recordkeeping fee is assessed only once, regardless of the number of accounts opened. This fee varies by plan and is subject to change. For specific information, please see the Fees and Commissions description available on Benefits OnLine, or check with your plan administrator. Note: Commission schedules and fees are subject to change. Commission fees applicable to mutual funds and ETFs are in addition to the fees described in each fund s prospectus. Other charges and expenses may apply. Please see the prospectuses for details. Viewing your account(s) sdb accounts can be viewed only on Benefits OnLine. You can also view other Merrill Lynch retirement accounts on Benefits OnLine. Non-retirement accounts (such as CMA accounts) can be accessed only through www.mymerrill.com. 9 The sweep investment within your sdb account will automatically receive daily deposits of any available cash that is not applied toward the payment of pending securities transactions, or other charges. 6
Is Self-Direct Brokerage right for you? Self-Direct Brokerage is designed for knowledgeable investors who feel comfortable making their own investment decisions and are willing to pay more for additional investment choices. With an sdb account, you are solely responsible for choosing your investment options and determining the suitability of the options available through Self-Direct Brokerage. Eligibility requirements and minimum core balances may apply. Ask yourself the following questions: Are you willing to pay an annual recordkeeping fee? Do you want more investment choices than your retirement account offers? Are you an experienced investor who wants to maintain control over your investments? Do you have the time to research, select and monitor your own investment portfolio? Are you comfortable with more potential risk? If you ve answered yes to these questions, then an sdb account may be right for you. If not, then the core investment menu made available through your employer-sponsored retirement plan may be sufficient to meet your needs. Want to learn more or enroll? Log on to Benefits OnLine at www.benefits.ml.com, click on the Investments tab, then choose Self- Direct Brokerage from the drop-down menu. Call a participant service representative at 1.866.218.INFO (4636), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, for questions or assistance with the online application. For sdb Advisor Advantage, please call 1.866.218.INFO (4636) or contact your Merrill Lynch financial advisor. Access to the money in this account is regulated according to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and other applicable legislation. Merrill Lynch will not determine or advise you whether your investment or trading activity is permissible under or consistent with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, or your retirement plan. Each retirement plan has certain restrictions that all participants are required to follow. The investments you make through Self-Direct Brokerage are made solely at your discretion as a plan participant. The plan, its trustees and Merrill Lynch are not responsible for selecting or monitoring the available Self-Direct Brokerage investments. The plan or its trustees may revoke Self-Direct Brokerage at any time. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with investing. Bear in mind that higher return potential is accompanied by higher risk. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of investment options carefully before investing. This, and additional information about the investment options, can be found in the prospectuses and, if available, the summary prospectuses, which can be obtained on Benefits OnLine at www.benefits.ml.com or by calling a participant service representative. Investors should read the prospectuses and, if available, the summary prospectuses carefully before investing. 7
Online resources for you Take advantage of these online resources from Merrill Lynch to help with your retirement planning. Benefits OnLine Education Center Make smart, informed financial decisions with the help of articles, videos, calculators and planning tools. www.education.ml.com Budget & Savings Calculator See how small changes to today s spending habits may really add up for retirement. go.ml.com/calc myfuture Get practical investment guidance and financial tips from this quarterly online newsletter. www.mlmyfuture.com Unless otherwise noted, all trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Bank of America Corporation. 2015 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. ARVJWDKG 20152719-3 10/2015 ADA