Merrill Lynch[1] is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage.[2] Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MER. Merrill agreed to a purchase by Bank of America on September 14, 2008, at the height of the 2008 Financial Crisis.[3] It ceased to exist as a separate entity in January 2009.[4]
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race. The October 9, 2011 running was the 34th anniversary running of the race. The first race was held on September 25, 1977 under the original name the Mayor Daley Marathon, which drew a field of 4200 runners. The race has been held every year since, except in 1987 when only a half-marathon was ran. It is among the fastest growing marathon road races in the world, due in part to its largely fast and flat course which facilitates the pursuit of personal records and world record performances.