A polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) resin may be prepared by a method that includes oxidatively copolymerizing a monohydric phenol and a polyhydric phenol in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal ion and a nitrogen-containing ligand to form a solution comprising a polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.3 deciliter per gram at 25° C. in chloroform; and contacting the polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) solution with an aqueous solution of a chelating agent to extract the metal ion from the solution; wherein the chelating agent and metal ion are present in a molar ratio of about 1.0 to about 1.5. The method reduces the formation of a dispersion during the chelation step.