Five Merrill financial advisors from southeast Michigan — Kristina Abro, Nicole Holmes, Jennifer Jennings, Melissa Spickler, and Sara Wohl — have been named to the 2026 Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” list.
The recognition acknowledges leading female advisors across the country based on factors including industry experience, client service, assets under management, and overall practice excellence.
This distinction signals a commitment to building strong relationships, providing disciplined guidance and consistently striving to help clients achieve their financial goals. It also reflects the meaningful role these women play in their markets, not only in guiding clients, but in contributing to the strength and visibility of their broader communities.
Abro, based in Auburn Hills, joined Merrill in 2012 after graduating from Central Michigan University with a degree in economics. She advises clients in defining and pursuing their unique financial objectives, with a focus on bringing clarity and structure to complex financial situations.
Abro employs a comprehensive asset and liability management approach and draws on her extensive knowledge of the financial markets to develop tailored strategies aligned with each client’s long-term goals. She previously has been named to the Forbes “Best in State Wealth Advisors,” and “Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors Best in State” lists.
Holmes, based in Bloomfield Hills, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has been with Merrill for 25 years. She holds the designations of Certified Financial Planner professional and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. Holmes has previously been recognized by Forbes as a “Best in State Advisor,” “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors,” and Barron’s named her to its “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” list. She is a governing member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and sponsors a perpetual endowed scholarship for the Interlochen Arts Academy to send students to summer camp.
Jennings, based in Farmington Hills, first joined Merrill in 1996, and joined again in 2016. She is a financial planner specializing in high-net-worth individuals and is also a Certified Divorced Financial Analyst. She leverages her expertise to support women navigating divorce, helping them build financial confidence and independence.
Jennings, a Northwestern University graduate, also co-leads the Merrill Lynch Women’s Exchange in the Detroit area, a platform bringing the women of Merrill together for networking, mentorship and access to content related to enhancing their careers in financial services. She has previously been named to Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisor,” Forbes “Best in State Wealth Advisor” and Forbes “Best in State Wealth Management Team” lists.
Spickler is based in Bloomfield Hills and has been with Merrill since 1980. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and is also a qualified portfolio manager, who helps motivate, advise and guide women in transition, executives, closely held businesses, retirees and entrepreneurs as they pursue their financial goals.
A Michigan State graduate, Spickler has been named No. 1 in Michigan on the Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” for five consecutive years; Forbes 2025 “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” lists for eight consecutive years; Forbes 2026 “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” lists nine consecutive times and Barron’s 2024 “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors” for 13 consecutive years.
Spickler also was named to the 2026 Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list, a national distinction highlighting top-performing advisors demonstrating leadership, professionalism, and impact within the wealth management industry.
Wohl, based in Ann Arbor, joined Merrill in 2011 and holds the Certified Financial Planner certification, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. She says she’s passionate about helping women through various life stages and transitions whether it’s the sale of a business, a career change, a divorce or the death of a loved one. Wohl holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation and assists high net worth families create and implement charitable giving plans.
She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and holds both a Master of Science in Finance and an MBA from Walsh College. Wohl has been named to the Forbes “Best in State Next Generation Wealth Advisors,” Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors,” Forbes/Shook Research’s “Best in State Wealth Advisor” and “America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors” and Working Mother/Shook Research’s “Top Wealth Advisor Moms” lists.
