Three Merrill Advisors Named Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors"

Three Merrill wealth management advisors Marie Vanerian, Nicole Christians, and Melissa Spickler have been named to Forbes’ 2021 “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list. All three were ranked in the top five of the Michigan financial advisors named to the list.

Melissa Spickler is the founder of the Spickler Wealth Management Group in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. Melissa joined Merrill in 1980. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) designation. She 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 her own personalized or defined strategies which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds and Merrill model portfolios.

This is the fourth time Melissa has been named to the Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors” list. She was also recently named to the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list for the fourth straight year.

She is also a member, speaker and mentor for the Inforum Center for Leadership in Detroit. Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal law from Michigan State University.

Nicole Christians is based in Farmington Hills, MI and has been with Merrill since 2002 after graduating from the University of Michigan with degrees in history and philosophy. Christians works with high-net worth clients on estate, wealth and tax planning strategies.

She holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor professional designation. This is the third straight year Nicole has been named to the Forbes ‘Top Women Wealth Advisors” list. She was also named to Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

She is a founding member of 100 Businesses Who Care and a member of National Association of Women Business Owners. Nicole is also an Advisory Board Member of the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund.

Marie Vanerian, based in Troy, MI is recognized as an industry expert and thought leader in her career which has spanned more than 40 years. This is the third year Marie has been named to the Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors” list.

Marie educates clients about their investment options to guide to sound decisions within their risk tolerance. Additionally, she offers institutional consulting and advisory services to a broad range of global clients, including: foundations, endowments, religious organizations, pension plans, 401(k)/403(b) plans, and multi-generation private family offices.

Vanerian’s community and philanthropic interests include: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Lions Club International; Grosse Pointe Academy; Special Olympics; Samaritas: Vista Maria; and the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan State University.

Merrill holds the No. 2 position of all firms, with 224 total advisors recognized on the published list, including 203 Financial Advisors (FAs) and 21 Private Wealth Advisors (PWAs).