Merrill Lynch continues to issue details related to its new advisor business development and retention program, "Project Thunder". 

According to an internal memo obtained by Advisorhub, Merrill is expanding its Elite Growth Practice system, which provides advisors with suggestions to meet account and asset growth targets. Merrill has imposed both the carrot and the stick for an advisor's ability to meet those targets – by way of incentive pay or demerits. 

Second, Merrill is adding access to client banking and lending information to its advisor workstations. According to the memo, this is intended to reduce "the need to contact the Merrill Lynch Service Network." 

Third, Merrill now will allow advisors to send existing and prospective clients non-branded greeting cards, so long as a market supervisor approves. Advisors will be reimbursed for the cards through their business development account, according to the memo. 

Perhaps adding the most noise to Merrill's "thunder", Merrill has unbuttoned its top shirt button to make it simple for advisors to open accounts for customers who earn money from cannabis-related businesses. 

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