The Legend of Merrill Lynch: a Century of Rise and Fall

This is a book about the history of Merrill Lynch and its leaders, its rise and fall. The chapters in this book revolve around 12 leaders of Merrill Lynch, and I knew each one of them, including the last leader, John Thain. All of them have left their mark on the company's history, and with one notable exception, all have respected and strengthened the company's culture. This story begins with an idea that came from a man named Charlie Merrill, who is undoubtedly one of the most influential entrepreneurs in American business history. By extending Wall Street to Main Street and democratizing the business of investing, Merrill Lynch helped countless middle-class individuals save and invest, while also financing the growth of thousands of companies, municipalities, and national governments. The development and evolution of financial intermediaries helped the United States become the global economic hegemon in the second half of the 20th century, and Merrill Lynch has always been at the core of the United States' financial development process. Like every other company, Merrill Lynch made mistakes, but its leaders were principled, guided the company forward, and always did the right thing for the right reasons.