Taking action

Select Forgot password on the Benefits OnLine log‑in page and follow the prompts. You might need to verify your identity using your contact information, so it's important to keep it up to date.

On Benefits OnLine, go to Profile & Settings to review and update your phone number, email address, and other contact information. To update contact information for your Merrill brokerage account, access your brokerage account and select Go to MyMerrill, then go to Your Account > Personal Information.

Keeping your information current helps ensure you receive account notifications and security communications. You can also set up multi-factor authentication to receive a security code when you sign in to Benefits OnLine.

If an award is being delivered—or was recently delivered—you’ll see a link to Recent Vesting & Delivery on Benefits OnLine. This section shows what vested, what was delivered after taxes, and the amount deposited into your brokerage account, along with suggested next steps and helpful resources.

Because taxes may be withheld or shares sold automatically at vesting, the number of shares delivered to your account may be lower than your total vested units.

You can also view upcoming vesting dates and pending activity on Benefits OnLine on the Your Awards page.

If your awards are vested and within the exercise period, you can model potential outcomes and, if eligible, submit an exercise request on Benefits OnLine. Modeling allows you to estimate the value of your award and, for some award types, the taxes that may apply before you exercise. Once you're ready, follow the prompts to review and submit your transaction.

See how it's done. View step-by-step instructions.

On Benefits OnLine, you can choose to sell a specific number of shares or select which tax lots are included in the transaction. You can sell shares using:

If you sell all your shares, don’t close your brokerage account—future award proceeds will be deposited into it. You may receive partial execution of the sale order you place, resulting in only a portion of your shares being sold. Once your order has been entered, you should check the confirmation on Benefits OnLine to determine the number of shares sold.

See how it's done. View step-by-step instructions.

If your company pays dividends, you can choose how they’re handled for shares in your brokerage account:

See how it's done. View step-by-step instructions.

If you hold company stock from your equity plan at another financial institution, you may be able to transfer it to your Merrill brokerage account. Keeping your shares in one account can make them easier to manage and track. Contact the financial institution that holds the shares to determine whether a transfer is available and what information is required. You'll typically need your Merrill brokerage account number and the number of shares you want to transfer, as well as Merrill’s DTC number (8862).

You may need to deposit funds into your brokerage account—for example, to exercise stock options using a cash purchase or to pay award‑related taxes in cash. Your account must be open and active.

You can typically deposit funds by check or wire transfer. Allow enough time for funds to be received and credited to your account before any deadlines. Contact Merrill for details.

By linking a bank account to your Benefits OnLine account, you can transfer cash from stock sales, dividends, or other proceeds to your bank account.

To set up direct deposit, link a bank account in Benefits OnLine under Profile & Settings > Manage Linked Accounts > Link accounts. If you have an account at Bank of America, you may see this listed as an option.

Some accounts can be verified instantly, allowing you to schedule transfers right away. Others may require additional verification and small trial deposits. After the deposits have been sent, you’ll receive an email with instructions. Once verified, you can schedule transfers between accounts.

Wire instructions allow you to transfer cash from your brokerage account to a bank account that may not be linked for direct deposit. On Benefits OnLine, select Brokerage/Sell Shares > Wire Instructions. You'll need your financial institution's routing number (ABA for U.S. accounts, SWIFT for non-U.S. accounts). Once confirmed, the form will auto-populate. Review and complete any missing details before submitting.

In some circumstances, you may need to contact Merrill to set up wire instructions.

Certifying your tax status helps ensure taxes are reported and withheld appropriately. On Benefits OnLine, select the To Do reminder to certify your tax status and complete or update your tax form.

See how it's done. View step-by-step instructions in your language for completing Form W‑8BEN.

If your awards vest, are exercised, or you sell company stock, you may receive tax documents such as a W‑2 from your employer and a 1099‑B from Merrill. The forms you receive depend on your award activity during the year.

On Benefits OnLine, select your plan name, then Brokerage/Sell Shares > MyMerrill Statements and Documents. You’ll be taken to MyMerrill.

At the top of the page, choose the account you want to view. Select Tax Documents to see your Tax Reporting Documents by year. Selecting a document opens a PDF, or you can check the boxes next to the statements and select Download statements.