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UNITED STATES
   
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
   
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SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.)

TS&W/CLAYMORE TAX-ADVANTAGED BALANCED FUND
 
(Name of Issuer)

Auction Rate Preferred Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)

87280R207
(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2008
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

x Rule 13d-1(b)

¨ Rule 13d-1(c)

¨ Rule 13d-1(d)

*
The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
CUSIP No. 87280R207

   
1. 
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. (MERRILL LYNCH)

   
2.
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
 
(a)    ¨   
(b)    ¨   

   
3.
SEC USE ONLY

   
4. 
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
   
 
                      Delaware
     
NUMBER OF
           
5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
     
SHARES
  
Disclaimed (See #9 below)
     
BENEFICIALLY
           
6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
     
OWNED BY
  
Disclaimed (See #9 below)
     
EACH
           
7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
REPORTING
  
Disclaimed (See #9 below)
     
PERSON
  
8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
WITH
  
Disclaimed (See #9 below)

   
9. 
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership in all Shares of TS&W/CLAYMORE TAX-ADVANTAGED BALANCED FUND, held by Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner and Smith, Inc.

 
  
10. 
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

¨

   
11. 
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
  Disclaimed (See #9 above)
 
   
12. 
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

  HC, CO
 
 
 
SCHEDULE 13g

CUSIP No. 87280R207

   
1. 
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Merrill LYNCH, PIERCE FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED

   
2.
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
 
(a)  ¨   
(b)  ¨   

   
3.
SEC USE ONLY

   
4. 
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
   
 
                       Delaware
     
NUMBER OF
            
5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
     
SHARES
  
1,382
     
BENEFICIALLY
            
6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
     
OWNED BY
  
   0
     
EACH
            
7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
REPORTING
  
1,382
     
PERSON
            
8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
     
WITH
  
0

 
  
9. 
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

   1,382
 
  
10. 
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

¨

 
  
11. 
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
   28.8%
 
   
12.
  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

   BD, IA
 
 
 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
CUSIP NO.  87280R207

   
Item 1(a). 
Name of Issuer:
   
  TS&W/CLAYMORE TAX-ADVANTAGED BALANCED FUND

   
Item 1(b).
Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
   
 
C/O CLAYMORE SECURITIES
  2455 CORPORATE WEST DRIVE
  LISLE IL 60532 
 
   
Item 2(a).
Name of Person Filing:
   
 
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. (ML&CO) 
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE FENNER & SMITH, INCORPORATED (MLPFS)

   
Item 2(b). 
 Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:

The principal business office for Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith, Incorporated is 4 World Financial Center, 250 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10080.

    
Item 2(c). 
Citizenship:
   
 
SEE ITEM 4 OF COVER PAGES

        
Item 2(d). 
Title of Class of Securities:
   
 
        AUCTION RATE PREFERRED STOCK

   
Item 2(e). 
CUSIP Numbers:
   
  87280R207, 87280R306

   
Item 3. 
If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

(a)
x
Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(b)
¨
Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
(c)
¨
Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)19) of the Exchange Act.
(d)
¨
Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
(e)
x
An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)
(f)
¨
An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)
(g)
¨
A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)
(h)
¨
A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
(i)
¨
A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act
(j)
¨
Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
 
 
SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.      87280R207

Item 4. 
Ownership.

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

The number of shares reported herein represents combined holdings in multiple series of auction rate preferred securities of the issuer, which are treated herein as one class of securities in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Auction Rate Securities Global Exemptive Relief no action letter issued on September 22, 2008.

(a) 
Amount beneficially owned:
               1,382 Shares Auction Rate Preferred Stock
(b) 
Percent of class:
               28.8%

(c) 
Number of shares as to which such person has:

(i) 
Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
            SEE ITEM 5 OF COVER PAGES
(ii) 
Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
            SEE ITEM 6 OF COVER PAGES
(iii) 
Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
            SEE ITEM 7 OF COVER PAGES
(iv) 
Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
            SEE ITEM 8 OF COVER PAGE
      
Item 5. 
 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following o

   
Item 6. 
Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

        NOT APPLICABLE
 
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
 
Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

        NOT APPLICABLE
 
Item 9. 
Notice of Dissolution of Group.
 
            NOT APPLICABLE
 

 
SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.           87280R207

Item 10. 
Certifications.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

January 12, 2009
 
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
  
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
 INCORPORATED
     
     
By:   /s/ Pia Thompson
  
By:   /s/ Pia Thompson
Name:
    
Pia Thompson
  
Name:     
Pia Thompson
Title:
  
Assistant Secretary
  
Title:
Assistant Secretary
 
* Executed pursuant to a Power of Attorney, dated November 17, 1995, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
 

Schedule 13G
Exhibit A

Power of Attorney

The undersigned, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware, with its principal place of business at World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281 does hereby make, constitute and appoint Richard B. Alsop, Richard D. Kreuder, Andrea Lowenthal, Gregory T. Russo, or any individual from time to time elected or appointed as secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, acting severally, each of whose address is Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281, as its true and lawful attorneys- in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead (i) to execute on behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, as required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, of original, copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together with any amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the Act, as may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to any equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially owned by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, (ii) to execute on behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, any number, as appropriate, of original, copies or electronic filings of any forms (including without limitation), Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3, 4 and 5) required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, and (iii) generally to take such other actions and perform such other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in a all respects as if the undersigned could do if personally present.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney, this 17th day of November 1995.


 
MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
   
   
 
By:  /s/ David H. Komansky
 
Name:  David H. Komansky
 
Title:  President and Chief Operating Officer