Merrill Lynch named 2,314 advisors to the 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list, more than any other firm, according to a May 2, 2026 announcement from Bank of America, Merrill’s parent company. The recognition spans all 50 states and underscores the firm’s scale and depth in the wealth management industry.
The 2026 list was published April 7, 2026, based on data as of June 30, 2025. Merrill’s 2,314 advisors represent a significant increase from the prior year: the firm placed 2,112 advisors on the 2025 Forbes Best-in-State list, according to Bank of America’s careers site, marking a gain of 202 advisors year-over-year.
Beyond the state-by-state rankings, Merrill achieved notable placements on Forbes’ national tier. The firm placed 59 advisors on the 2026 Forbes America’s Top Wealth Advisors list, which recognizes the top 250 advisors nationally. Among those, Merrill Private Wealth Advisor Jeff Erdmann, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, ranked #1 overall on the 2026 America’s Top Wealth Advisors list, according to the Bank of America press release.
The Forbes rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, compliance records, firm nominations, assets under management, and firm-generated revenue. Investment performance is not a criterion in the evaluation. “This level of recognition across Forbes’ rankings speaks to the caliber of our advisors,” said Kenneth Correa, Head of Business and Client Development at Merrill, in the announcement.
Merrill advisors also earned recognition across multiple other 2026 Forbes rankings. The firm placed 4,837 advisors and 1,844 teams on the 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list, 539 advisors on the Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State list, and 23 advisors on the Forbes America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors list. Additionally, Merrill placed 341 advisors on Barron’s 2026 Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list and 24 advisors on Financial Planning’s 2026 Top 40 Brokers Under 40.
Sources
- Bank of America Newsroom — official press release confirming 2,314 Merrill advisors on 2026 Forbes Best-in-State list, 59 on America’s Top Wealth Advisors, Jeff Erdmann’s #1 ranking, and Kenneth Correa’s statement
- Bank of America Careers — confirmed 2,112 Merrill advisors on 2025 Forbes Best-in-State list for year-over-year comparison
- Forbes — published April 7, 2026 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list based on data as of June 30, 2025, developed by SHOOK Research
