Newman Alumna Susan Rosenthal '64 in the News

Rosenthal is one of 16 Merrill Lynch financial advisors recognized – more than any other firm.

Durham, NC, July 6, 2006 – Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) today announced that Susan Rosenthal from Durham is among an elite group of financial advisors recognized in Barron’s first ever report on the “Top 100 Women Financial Advisers.” Rosenthal was selected for this honor based upon following the industry’s best practices and on a range of qualifications including revenue, customer satisfaction and other factors. With 16 financial advisors on the Barron’s list, Merrill Lynch has more advisors recognized than any other single financial advisory firm.

To compile this list, Barron’s relied on the services of R.J. Shook, an independent, third-party expert who has been ranking America’s top advisors for more than 10 years in his Winner’s Circle books. The Winner’s Circle team vetted each advisor on the “Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisers” list through a host of quantitative and qualitative criteria, ranging from assets managed, revenue produced, experience levels, acceptable compliance records and U4 forms, discussions with management and more. A diversity of advisors with focuses on retail, high-net-worth, and ultra-high-net-worth were selected, as well as a range of markets within each region. Client portfolio performance is not a criterion.

Rosenthal has been with Merrill Lynch for 25 years, serving corporate and individual investors with comprehensive financial solutions, including concentrated stock management, asset management, estate planning and philanthropy. As First Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch in the Durham, North Carolina office, Susan holds several designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Investment Manager Analyst (CIMA) and Certified Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC). Originally from New Orleans, Susan also holds Undergraduate, Masters and PhD degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Barron’s is a weekly magazine, published by Dow Jones, established in 1921 for private investors, money managers and corporate executives involved with the financial community. The annual “Top 100 Financial Advisers” special report appears in the April 22 issue. For more information, visit www.barrons.com.

Merrill Lynch is one of the world’s leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies, with offices in 36 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately $1.8 trillion. As an investment bank, it is a leading global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a broad range of asset classes and serves as a strategic advisor to corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. Through Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, the company is one of the world’s largest managers of financial assets. Firmwide, assets under management total $581 billion. For more information on Merrill Lynch, please visit www.ml.com.