While Merrill Edge isn’t entirely fee-free, depending on the investment products you choose, the company is straightforward about the fees it charges. For example, the platform charges a $1 fee per corporate or municipal bond trade, a $19.95 fee for mutual fund trades, and a $29.95 fee for each broker-assisted trade if you have a self-directed trading account. Guided trading accounts come with a 0.45% annual management fee.