Platform Comparison

Fundrise vs Merrill Edge

Compare Fundrise and Merrill Edge on fees, DRIP, fractional shares and research for dividend investing.

FR

Fundrise

★4.2

Access private real estate investments with just $10—earn quarterly dividends from rental income and property appreciation without being a landlord.

Full Review
Higher Rated
ME

Merrill Edge

★4.5

Bank of America's brokerage offering seamless banking integration, solid research tools, and the valuable Preferred Rewards program for qualifying customers.

Full Review

Fundrise vs Merrill Edge: Fees, Minimums & DRIP Compared

FeatureFundriseMerrill Edge
Our Rating4.2/54.5/5
Trading CommissionsN/A$0
Account Minimum$10$0
Fractional SharesN/ADRIP only
DRIPN/AFree
Research ToolsBasicGood
Best ForLong-Term Real Estate InvestorsBank of America Customers

Fundrise vs Merrill Edge: Pros and Cons

Fundrise

Pros

  • + Access to private real estate with just $10 minimum
  • + Quarterly dividend distributions from rental income
  • + Open to non-accredited investors (unlike most private REITs)
  • + Diversification across multiple properties and markets
  • + Historical returns competitive with public REITs

Cons

  • - Very limited liquidity—designed for 5+ year holds
  • - 1% early withdrawal penalty on shares held under 5 years
  • - Dividends taxed as ordinary income (not qualified)
  • - Current dividend yield around 1.92% (lower than public REITs)

Merrill Edge

Pros

  • + Commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs
  • + Seamless integration with Bank of America accounts
  • + Selective DRIP—choose which securities reinvest dividends
  • + DRIP supports fractional share reinvestment
  • + Preferred Rewards program offers fee discounts and bonuses

Cons

  • - No direct fractional share purchases (DRIP only)
  • - Mutual fund transaction fees up to $19.95
  • - Low interest rate on uninvested cash
  • - $49.95 full account transfer fee

Which Is Better for Dividend Investors: Fundrise or Merrill Edge?

Choose Fundrise if you...

  • Are in Fundrise's core audience: long-term real estate investors

Choose Merrill Edge if you...

  • Are in Merrill Edge's core audience: bank of america customers
  • Prefer a higher-rated overall platform

Want the full breakdown of fees, DRIP, and research tools? Read our Fundrise review and Merrill Edge review.

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Investment Disclaimer

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.