Merrill Advisors in Bloomfield Hills, Auburn Hills Are Honored

Six Merrill financial advisors from offices in Bloomfield Hills and Auburn Hills were recently named to Forbes 2021 “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list.

Joe Fiorini is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor for Merrill in Auburn Hills, and joined Merrill in 1982. A graduate of Michigan State University, Joe has accumulated years of experience providing investment and wealth management advisory services. He develops meaningful relationships driven by clients’ individual needs and unique aspirations. Fiorini also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation, and he was previously named to Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors in 2018.

2021 is the fourth straight year Chris Liparoto has earned the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor honor. Liparoto has more than 25 years of experience providing financial and wealth management advice and services. Prior to joining Merrill in 1993, he graduated from Michigan State University. He is based in Auburn Hills and focuses on wealth management and investment-based strategies, estate and wealth transfer and money management selection, and works with small businesses. Chris has earned titles including Certified Investment Management Analyst, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor.

Derek Ashcraft is a Senior Portfolio Manager for Merrill in Bloomfield Hills and was previously named to the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list in 2018, 2019, & 2020. Ashcraft has worked as an investment professional in the financial services industry since 1995. His services include retirement planning, investment planning, estate planning, wealth planning and risk management. Ashcraft holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Certified Investment Management Analyst designations. Derek received his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, and his master’s degree in management from Harvard University in May 2020.

Adam Bornstein works in Bloomfield Hills as a Merrill Wealth Management Advisor. Bornstein employs a goals-based wealth management process that is tailored to each individual investor. Adam joined Merrill in 2010 and leverages his knowledge of retirement planning and Merrill’s resources to help clients navigate the financial landscape. He has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst professional designation and is also a qualified Portfolio Manager who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, can help clients pursue their objectives by building and managing his own personalized or defined strategies. Adam earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree from Northwestern University.

Steve Briggs is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor for Merrill in Bloomfield Hills, and offers over 35 years of experience to serving his clients’ needs. He has now been honored four straight years on Forbes’ “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list. Briggs and his team serve as the key facilitators for estate planning needs and customized lending needs, and address how to handle long term care expenses. As a result of his commitment to continued professional development, Steve has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification, along with the Certified Investment Management Analyst and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designations. Steve is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.

Wealth Management Advisor Melissa Spickler is founder of the Spickler Wealth Management Group in Bloomfield Hills. She has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation, and is also a qualified Portfolio Manager. She joined Merrill in 1980 and today helps motivate, advise and guide women in transition, executives, closely held businesses, retirees and entrepreneurs as they pursue their financial goals and aspirations. Her mission is to help clients identify needs they may not realize they have and provide them with the financial tools to create and maintain the lifestyle that they desire. Melissa was previously named to Forbes' “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” and Forbes’ “Top Women Wealth Advisors” in 2018, 2019 and 2020. She is a graduate of Michigan State University.

Merrill holds the No. 1 position of all firms, with 1,319 total advisors recognized on this list, including 1,168 Financial Advisors (FAs) and 151 Private Wealth Advisors (PWAs). This marks the fourth consecutive year for Merrill in the No. 1 spot.