In a first, brokers with a major national firm, Bank of America Merrill Lynch ($13.43 0.07%), are selling an investment long associated solely with independent-contractor broker-dealers: Nontraded real estate investment trusts.

The firm's 17,500 registered representatives and advisers a month ago began selling the Jones Lang LaSalle Income Property Trust ($96.94 0.94%).

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the first major wirehouse to sell such trusts and has so far raised about $50 million from clients.